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timers on precision rifles?

customones

Sergeant
Full Member
Minuteman
Jan 18, 2011
302
36
52
billings montana
Was wondering if anybody ran a timer on their precision rifles at comps, if so what brand and what type of securement did you use?
 
I've heard a few guys taking about this. We figured some type of very small stopwatch style timer mounted off the pic rail and facing you. You'd need a joint of some kind in the arm so it could be swung out of the way.
 
I think that would be handy, i will have to have a prototype made and see what you think. I have enough room on my AIAW rail to moint it so it swings out 90 degrees and down 90 degrees.
 
I haven't tried this yet, but if I did I suppose it would help me to know when my boiled eggs are done.
 
If you run an ACI and put your timer on the rifle’s muzzle this may remove that pesky angle... or put it on the off side of the level so the gun would magically level itself. IDK, I have not tried it so this is only theory.
 
If I put a timer on my gun, from where would I hang the charm bracelet?
 
Kent Reeve, many times national champion and all-around nice guy, fabricated a sheet metal hanger to screw a simple kitchen timer to (which attached to either his scope base or a Pic rail). He used it to help track his time in rapid-fire strings (standing to sitting and standing to prone) in NRA highpower and long range matches.

In long range you may get 22 to 30 minutes to shoot unlimited sighters followed by twenty rounds for score. If you shoot at a place like Butner or Camp Perry you know the wind can do all kinds of crazy things in the space of half an hour, but in a match time is time and finite. You can wait out gusts or fish-tails, but when the man calls "Cease fire" you're done.
 
Was a thought is all, to each his own. I am guilty of asking how much time is left on a few occasions. Anyway looking forward to shooting with tou guys at the cup.
 
At last year's Hide Cup we had 5 minutes to shoot on the clock, if I wanted to know how much time I had left... I asked the RO timing me.
 
Was a thought is all, to each his own. I am guilty of asking how much time is left on a few occasions. Anyway looking forward to shooting with tou guys at the cup.

It's a good idea. Don't let others opinions influence your own. This has been discussed by more than a few very good PRS shooters lately. During a course of fire containing multiple shooting locations, time management is very important. Many times I've asked the RO how much time was remaining and since I did not come off the gun or make eye contact with him, he never knew I was asking. There is alot to this, but it's mostly a individual preferance thing. If you don't think it's a tool for you, don't read anymore about it. If you think it may benfit you, then by all means go for it.
 
^^^ yeah that was kind of my thought to begin with, maintaining position and managing your time or at least keeping track of it at a glance would be beneficial, that would also keep the RO focused on the targets and not the timer. Influenced by speculation? Nah.
 
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I shoot fast and rarely run out of time, so for me I'd only end up mind screwing myself and distracting myself from shooting by looking at the watch too often. May work for some, but for me I'm better off just shooting and letting the time fall where it may.
 
In NRA shooting, when you have tens of minutes to shoot a string of a few shots, I can see the value in knowing that fifteen minutes have gone-by. But in practical rifle competition if you are thinking about time you are doing it wrong. Most of the time limits are there simply to distract you into thinking about the time. Why would anyone want to formalize this process?