SG Timer GO Review: Best Bang-For-Your-Buck Shot Timer?

Do you use a shot timer? You should! They’re incredible tools that can take your training to the next level.

One that’s been getting a lot of hype lately is the SG Timer GO from Shooters Global. It’s compact, a little unconventional, and taps into some pretty neat online resources.

But is it as good as people say it is? 

There’s only one way to find out! Let’s put this little gadget through the wringer and see if it’s worth buying.

SG Timer GO Specs & Features

Specs

• Buzzer Volume (Claimed): up to 99dB
• Buzzer Volume (Measured): 60 – 102 dB
• Display: 1.69” x 0.88”
• Battery: Rechargeable (USB-C, wireless)
• Bluetooth: Yes

Features

• Customizable modes for specific firearms, dry fire, and range master
• Adjustments and custom courses of fire in the Drills app
• Tracks your progress over time
• Sends the buzzer tone to Bluetooth hearing protection

SG Timer GO Background

Believe it or not, shot timers have been around since 1924. Shooting legend Ed McGivern invented the first one to scientifically measure his quick-draw expertise.

His shot timer was about the size of a lunchbox with several buttons, a microphone, and an analog clock face. The U.S. Bureau of Standards verified its accuracy to 1/120th of a second.

The next significant evolution didn’t happen until the 1980s, when competitive shooters started using PACT Club Timers.

Later generations of the PACT Club Timer and its competitors improved performance, but technological gains were more of refinements than reinventions.

Shooters Global seriously stepped up the game with more advanced features, more sophisticated sound detection, and an impressive suite of in-app capabilities that users can access via Bluetooth.

Compared to legacy shot timers, the SG Timer GO is smaller and more user-friendly. It’s less likely to miss shots or record false positives. Pairing it with the Drills app opens up a world of tools, training aids, and even social engagement.

Compared to the flagship SG Timer 2, the SG Timer GO is more blocky, provides less information on the display, allows less control through the device itself, and – in my testing – has a buzzer that’s both quieter at the minimum setting and louder at the maximum. Both timers have equal sound detection sensitivity. 

The SG Timer 2 is a more capable device, but it also costs twice as much.

Who is the SG Timer GO For?

For many years, professional competitive shooters were the only people who used shot timers. Not anymore. Shot timers are essential range tools for lots of people, including us here at Pew Pew Tactical.

While I’d still recommend the SG Timer 2 to professional instructors and competitive shooters, anyone who wants to take advantage of technology and get as proficient as possible will appreciate the SG Timer GO.

I conducted my testing in an outdoor shooting bay. Shot timers might be allowed at your local shooting bench or indoor firing line, but there isn’t a lot you can do with them in those settings aside from working on your reaction time.

Many ranges won’t allow you to draw from a holster or engage targets with rapid strings of fire, so a shot timer doesn’t add as much value in that kind of training environment.

In a more dynamic setting, though, the SG Timer GO is a huge asset.

If you’re looking for a comprehensive training aid – a shot timer, virtual coach, and training community all in one – this is it.

Ergonomics: Fit & Feel

I was skeptical when I saw the SG Timer GO’s blocky shape and two, count ’em, two buttons (and a USB-C port for charging). 

But I kept an open mind.

Controls

First things first, I appreciate the upward-facing screen. It’s normal in the world of shot timers, but the SG Timer 2 makes you turn the timer to see the screen. Sometimes the old ways are better.

Next up: those buttons. Conventionally, shot timers (think Pact Club Timer series) have four buttons: up, down, review, and go.

The SG Timer GO only has two: one to activate the buzzer and one to cycle through the menu or cancel the timer. In practice, I actually found it simpler to operate than the four-button layout. 

App

The Drills app is one of the reasons the SG Timer GO can get away with having fewer buttons. Your phone is a much better tool for digging into settings.

The Drills app makes it easy to adjust settings, create sophisticated courses of fire, watch video tutorials, and even interact with other users.

There are too many modes, settings, and features in the app to do them justice here. Besides, Shooters Global releases frequent updates so new features are always on the way. 

Long story short, it makes Shooters Global products easily the most advanced training systems I’ve seen.

Keep That Thing On You

You can buy the SG Timer GO with a quick-release belt clip, a pocket clip, or both.

I got mine with the belt clip, which is actually large enough to accommodate a duty belt and locks in place. It positions the timer where it’s easy to read, and stays secure when running and climbing over obstacles.

Both options come with a lanyard for more casual range days.

How Does the SG Timer GO Work?

That’s a lot to absorb. But what’s it like to use the SG Timer GO? Let’s find out.

Standard Shot Timer Features

Like other shot timers, it lets you choose between an instant buzzer for use with a training buddy, a random delayed buzzer to prevent you from anticipating the buzzer, and par times that put you in a race against the clock.

Shot times and splits flash onto the screen in real time, and you can review them after you shoot without using the app.

Presets & Modes

You can get started without modifying a single setting, because the SG Timer GO comes loaded with presets including common firearms, shotguns, .22 LR, and dry fire. These have tailored settings for buzzer volume and timer sensitivity.

The SG Timer GO also has several modes. 

The one you’re most likely to use (aside from any drills you have saved) is the free shooting mode. This works just like a conventional shot timer.

Spy mode lets you keep an eye on other shooters or gather data for a friend. Instead of sounding its own buzzer, this mode activates the timer when it hears someone else’s buzzer and records the shots that follow.

Range officer mode does the opposite. It functions like the free shooting mode, but doesn’t store any of the session data in your personal history on the app. It’s useful for teaching other shooters without complicating your own records.

Shooting Drills

Not sure where to start? The Drills app has a menu of, well, drills pre-programmed and ready to go. I recommend Lena Miculek’s EDC course.

Kick-start your range day with slow fire for accuracy without a time limit, draw-and-fire, the Bill Drill, controlled pairs, transitioning between two targets, the failure drill, one-handed shooting, reloads, and slow fire on the clock.

If you shoot all of the pre-programmed drills in the app, you’ll fire 100 rounds. I wouldn’t make that your only training plan because we only grow when we leave our comfort zone, but that course of fire is a very solid way to get better if you’re used to being stuck behind a bench.

Drills App & Virtual Training Aids

When you’re ready for something more advanced, you can build a virtual stage online, shoot it on the range, and track your performance or share it with friends. The app even distinguishes between standard, metric, steel, and penalty targets.

Numbers on the timer’s display are useful, but there’s nothing quite like watching yourself with a critical eye. Using the Drills app, you can record yourself with a live display showing shot times and splits. 

If you’re feeling brave, you can send it to your training buddies as a friendly challenge or post it to the Drills community and ask for pointers.

Dry Fire Training

If you take your training seriously, you need to be dry-firing. During my time in the Marine Corps, I probably dry-fired 100 times for every live round I sent into a target, and now it’s part of my daily routine.

The problem is that you typically can only get your shot timer involved if you use a par time (and like getting your ears blown out by the buzzer). 

That’s not the case with the SG Timer GO. Not only can you turn down the buzzer volume to indoor-friendly levels, there’s a dry fire mode that does that for you and cranks up the sensitivity to pick up the sound of a firing pin snapping forward.

If you pair this with a training system like the Manstis Blackbeard X, you’ll seriously upgrade your skills.

I had the best success when I placed the SG Timer GO on a shelf and presented the pistol near it. This made it easy for the sensor to pick up the “click” of the striker or hammer without recording the sound of a pistol sliding out of a Kydex holster.

You can program the timer to disregard ambient sounds for a certain amount of time, but I found this method easier and just as effective.

Can You Hear Me Now?

If you don’t shoot with Bluetooth-equipped hearing protection already, you might want to buy some to go with your snazzy new shot timer.

While I was working on this test, Shooters Global pushed out an update that allows their shot timers to work with headphones.

That means you have the option to hear the buzzer in your headphones without bugging everyone else on the firing line. During dry fire training, it totally eliminates the tone for everyone else in your house – your dogs will thank you.

This update turned out to be a really nice feature that worked seamlessly, even in my technology-challenged hands.

What to Know Before You Go to the Range

There’s only one weak point in this system, and it’s not the shot timer – it’s your cellular carrier. To access all the Drills app’s features, you need to have good cell service.

During one range session, my phone lost reception midway through. The app had already sent the course of fire to the SG Timer GO, so I was good there, but I wasn’t able to reference the instructions for each stage.

Again, this isn’t a knock on the SG Timer GO or the Drills app. Consider it a suggestion to take an extra look at those instructions before you leave the house if your cell service is spotty.

Why is the SG Timer GO Unique?

The SG Timer GO gives you access to all the features of the SG Timer 2 (the most advanced shot timer I’m aware of) but it costs roughly the same as a very basic shot timer.

That’s pretty remarkable.

The support and training aids available in the Drills app are a huge asset in the quest to become a better shooter.

You can save a few dollars if you buy a Pact Club Timer III or Zohan Shot Timer, but the additional features of the Drills app are more than worth the upcharge.

By the Numbers

Reliability: 4.5/5

I didn’t have any issues with the SG Timer GO, but cellular service can be a limiting factor for the app.

Ergonomics: 5/5

The more I use the SG Timer GO, the more I like its controls and layout.

Accuracy: 5/5

I subjected the SG Timer GO to everything I could – rifles, pistols, shotguns, rimfire, subsonic suppressed, and even dry fire. It registered them all and never picked up someone else’s shooting by mistake.

Customization: 4/5

Yes, you need to use the Drills app to customize advanced settings, but most shot timers don’t even give you that option.

Value: 5/5

No shot timer gives you more for your money.

Overall: 5/5

This is an incredible tool. The fact that it doesn’t cost significantly more than an entry-level shot timer is a huge win.

Upgrades for SG Timer GO

Want to seriously maximize your training? This gear will help you get more out of every training session.

As always, you’re going to need safety gear any time you train. Do yourself a favor and level up from earplugs and shop glasses with Bluetooth hearing protection and quality ballistic glasses. The ShellShock Ultimate Eyes & Ears Combo makes it easy to get everything you need.

Shot timers are useful for all kinds of training, especially for improving your draw and presentation under stress. I’ve been using a Safariland 7216 duty belt with great results. It’s comfortable, it doesn’t budge when I use it with the hook-and-loop liner belt, and you can’t do better than the metal AustriAlpin Cobra buckle.

Looking to gain proficiency with your EDC pistol? We’re big fans of Kore Essentials nylon gun belts. They’re sturdy enough to comfortably support an IWB holster, and you can take your pick from several colors and buckle styles.

How We Tested the SG Timer GO

During this review, I made the SG Timer GO my primary shot timer for several months. Every time I went to the range, it was in my range bag.

I ran drills for pistol, carbine, and defensive shotgun with this timer, totalling more than 1,000 rounds. Ammunition included .22 LR, 9mm, 5.56 NATO/.223 Rem, and 12ga. I also shot subsonic 9mm through a Silencer Central Banish 9K to see how it performed with a suppressor. 

Since the SG Timer GO’s buzzer features adjustable volume, I used the Decibel X app to get an idea of its range. The numbers might not be as accurate as they’d be from a true sound meter since the app relies on a phone’s microphone, but they offer some idea of the maximum and minimum volume settings.

I also evaluated the SG Timer GO’s user interface, added features, ability to pick up shots, durability, and ability to filter out ambient sounds.

You have choices when you buy a shot timer, so I also compared it side by side with some of the most popular shot timers out there to see how it stacks up.

Meet the Experts

At the helm of this article is editor Scott Murdock, who got his start shooting in the Marine Corps. In addition to qualifying on rifle and pistol and training with crew-served weapons, Scott competed in the Western Division Matches intra-service shooting competition. Since then, he’s expanded his knowledge with training that includes courses at AMTAC Shooting, Full Spectrum Warrior, and Vortex Edge. Before joining Pew Pew Tactical, Scott reviewed guns, gear, and vehicles for a wide range of publications.

Editor-in-Chief Jacki Billings runs our experienced team of reviewers and edited this review. She is an NRA-certified Basic Pistol Instructor as well as a member of the Society of Professional Journalists, ACES: Society for Editing, and the Professional Outdoor Media Association. Jacki has a bachelor’s degree in journalism and has worked as a media professional for close to 20 years, specializing in gun media for almost 10 years. With 2,000+ articles to her name, she uses her professional journalism and editing experience to set testing protocols and editorial standards for Pew Pew Tactical.

Final Verdict

The capabilities and features of the SG Timer GO make other shot timers look like stone-age technology. I’d wholeheartedly recommend it for the dry fire feature alone – and that’s just the beginning.

A suite of training aids in the Drills app and the ability to get new features with a simple update make this one of the best training aids you can buy.

Is the SG Timer 2 more advanced and easier to use? Sure, but I won’t blame you if you don’t want to spend twice as much to get it.

As of right now, the SG Timer GO is easily the best shot timer for your money.

What’s your favorite shot time? Let us know in the comments. Looking for ways to make your training more effective? Check out our guide to the Best Shooting Drills!