I normally use a Competition Electronics Pocket Pro. I've been totally satisfied with it over the last three or four years. You can get these for around $120.

I have used many PACT timers at matches, and they are also excellent.

Congrats on being aware of the need for a shot timer. Trying to improve practical/defensive shooting without a timer is akin to practicing without a target.

Our club has several that have a Liquid Crystal Display which goes black if exposed to the sun for any length of time. I believe they are Pact Club Shot Timer 3's. The display overheats and is unusable for a period of time until placed in the shade to cool down.

I would definitely not purchase one of them.

The CEP's don't seem to have that problem.

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpag...688&t=11082005

or
http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpag...064&t=11082005

Thanks guys. That's good to know about the LCD blacking out. I'll look into the ones you suggested TOF.

Yeah Mike, I usually use one, but it limits the times at which I can use it because it belongs to the local department and they don't hand it out all to often. Having my own will give me more time to do it on my own and at my own pace. Just ordered my own 10" steel targets too. It'll be nice to be able to go out and shoot steel being that the wind blows 40mph all summer. I've been stuck on my .308 all winter though, and it's time to get back on the pistol practice with some weekly consistancy. They don't keep the indoor range open during the summer anymore, so the timer and some steel will be a good change of pace.


Zhur

Be careful with that steel and stay 15 yds or more back from it. I have a spot on my belly just healing up from some bounce back from a couple of months back.

Stay safe but enjoy.

Thanks TOF. I've shot steel before, and I've been bit before. I learned to turn the target just a smidge to the right or left. The targets I bought have about a 5-6 degree downward facing angle to them, that in combination with turning them to the right or left a bit should keep me outta the splatter. Good to mention though for those who've never shot steel.

If someone reading this has never shot steel before, WEAR SAFETY GLASSES, not sunglasses.

I'd go down and grab up some more frangible ammo, but it gets kinda spendy. Besides, I've been peppered more with frangible ammo pieces than I have with fmj's or jhp's, but when it does get you, it scares the crap outta you.

Zhur

I use a CED 7000.

Small, easy to use, has a memory, display shows other info like first shot time and split times.

I think I paid about $120 for it but I may be +/- $10

I don't go shoot without it now.

+1 on the CED timer 7000 - small with allot of features - the Pact timers are not reliable in the heat and with hard use will fail. The pocker pro timers are good but the CED has many more features.