The buzzing sound of a shot timer is the heartbeat of a firing line. If you’ve spent any time at a USPSA match or a local tactical clinic, you’ve seen it: that chunky, rectangular blue box clipped to a RO’s belt. It’s the PACT Club Timer 3. Honestly, in a world where everything looks like a sleek smartphone, this thing looks like a relic from 1998. It’s bulky. The screen isn't high-def. It doesn't have an app. Yet, professionals still swear by it.
It works. Period.
While newer competitors try to pack in Bluetooth, organic LED screens, and haptic feedback, PACT stays in its lane. They focused on one specific job—timing shots accurately—and they haven't messed with the formula much in decades. There’s something deeply respectable about a piece of gear that refuses to go "smart" just for the sake of a marketing bullet point.
What the PACT Club Timer 3 Actually Does (And Doesn't)
Most people buying their first timer get overwhelmed by features they'll never use. You don't need a graph of your shot cadence to get better at a draw-to-first-shot drill. You need a loud beep and a clear number. The PACT Club Timer 3 gives you exactly that. It's designed to be operated with one hand, which is actually a bigger deal than most realize. When you're holding a firearm in one hand (safely) or trying to manage a clipboard, you don't want to fiddle with a touchscreen.
The ergonomics are... let's call them "purposeful." It’s shaped like a wedge. This isn't an accident. The design allows the screen to be angled toward your eyes while it's clipped to your belt. You can look down and see your split times without unholstering the device. It’s a small detail, but once you use a timer that sits flat against your hip, you realize why the PACT shape is actually superior for solo practice.
One thing that surprises people is the microphone sensitivity. Out of the box, it’s tuned specifically for firearms. If you’re at a busy indoor range, a cheap timer might pick up the guy three lanes over shooting a .357 Magnum. The PACT is generally better at filtering that out, though no timer is 100% perfect in a concrete box. It’s also famous for its "instant" or "delayed" start modes. In delayed mode, the beep happens after a random interval between one and four seconds. This is the gold standard for solo training because it prevents you from "cheating" the start.
The Reality of Durability
Look, you’re going to drop this thing. It’s going to get covered in carbon, sweat, and probably a little bit of rain. The PACT Club Timer 3 is built from a high-impact polymer. It feels hollow, which leads some people to think it’s "cheap," but that lightness is actually a benefit. If a heavy device hits the gravel, the internal components take the full force of the inertia. The PACT’s lightweight shell acts as a crumple zone of sorts. I've seen these things tumble down 10-foot berms and keep ticking.
There is a downside, though. The battery door. If there is one legitimate gripe that everyone has, it’s the 9V battery compartment. It can be a bit of a fingernail-breaker to get open. And since it uses a 9V battery instead of a rechargeable internal pack, you have to keep a spare in your range bag. Some people hate this. They want USB-C charging.
I disagree.
If your rechargeable timer dies at the range, your training day is over. If your PACT Club Timer 3 dies, you grab a fresh 9V from the glovebox and you’re back in action in sixty seconds. In a survival or professional training context, "user-replaceable" usually beats "rechargeable" every single time.
Why the Interface Feels "Old" (And Why That's Good)
We are conditioned to love scrolling. We like menus. We like "settings." The PACT ignores all of that. It has a few buttons on the front: Start, Review, and the ones to toggle modes. That’s basically it.
You hit the big GO button. You shoot. You hit the Review button to see your splits.
The "Review" function is where the magic happens for competitive shooters. It shows you the total time, then you can scroll through every single shot taken. You’ll see that your first shot was 1.2 seconds, your first split was 0.25, your second was 0.22, and so on. This feedback loop is the only way to get faster. If you don't know your splits, you're just making noise. The PACT makes this data accessible without needing to sync to a phone or look at a tiny, complex graph. It just gives you the numbers.
Comparing the PACT to the Modern Competition
The biggest threat to PACT right now is probably the Competition Electronics Pocket Pro II or the newer "smart" timers like the SG Timer. The Pocket Pro II is a direct competitor—similar price, similar vibes. It’s a bit more "pocket-shaped," but many find the PACT's beep to be slightly higher-pitched and easier to hear through heavy double-ear protection (foamies plus muffs).
The smart timers are a different beast. They have apps that film you and overlay your shot times on the video. That’s cool for Instagram. It’s genuinely useful for deep analysis. But those timers cost two or even three times what a PACT Club Timer 3 costs. For the average shooter who just wants to get their draw time under 1.5 seconds, the extra $200 for a screen that looks like a smartphone is a hard sell.
Navigating the Quirks
It’s not all sunshine and perfect splits. The PACT has quirks. For instance, the buzzer is on the back. If you wear it against a thick jacket, you can actually muffle the sound. You have to be mindful of how you're wearing it. Also, the display isn't backlit. If you’re doing low-light training or shooting at a range with poor lighting, you’re going to be tilting it toward the light to read your times.
Is that a dealbreaker? Usually not. But it’s something to know before you drop the money.
Another thing: the belt clip. It’s sturdy, but it’s tight. If you have a thick, 1.75-inch reinforced gun belt, you’re going to have to fight it a little bit to get it seated. But once it’s on, it’s not going anywhere. I’ve seen guys run 1-to-5 drills and transition into full sprints without the timer even wobbling.
How to Get the Most Out of Your Timer
If you just bought one, don't just go to the range and blast away. Use the PACT Club Timer 3 for dry fire practice at home. This is the "hidden" secret of top-tier shooters. Set the timer to "Par Mode." A Par Time is a second beep that goes off after a set interval.
- Set a Par Time for 1.5 seconds.
- Put the timer on your belt.
- On the first beep, draw.
- You must have your "shot" (a dry click) off before the second beep.
This creates a sense of urgency that you simply cannot replicate without a timer. It forces your brain to streamline your movements. You’ll find that the PACT becomes a coach that never gets tired and never lies to you.
Taking Action with Your Training
The PACT Club Timer 3 isn't a magic wand. It's a mirror. It shows you exactly how slow (or fast) you actually are, regardless of how fast you feel. To actually improve using this tool, you need a plan. Stop "just shooting" and start measuring.
First Step: Establish your baseline. Go to the range and record five draws from your holster to a target at 7 yards. Take the average. That is your current reality.
Second Step: Use the Review function to look at your "splits"—the time between shots. If your first shot is fast but your splits are 0.80 seconds, you know your problem isn't your draw; it's your recoil management.
Third Step: Set a goal that is exactly 0.10 seconds faster than your average. Don't try to be a hero and shave off a full second in one day. Shooting is a game of tenths.
The PACT is a tool for the disciplined. It’s for the person who wants to see 1.19 on the screen instead of 1.21. It’s rugged, it’s ugly, and it’s loud. In a world of gadgets that break the moment they hit the dirt, the PACT Club Timer 3 remains a staple because it honors the most important rule of gear: it works when you need it to.
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Pick one up, grab a spare 9V battery, and stop guessing how good you are. Start knowing.