Stress Shoots: Shooting Under Physical Duress

Rick Hogg
Jan 26
5 min read

By Rick Hogg

Owner & Lead Instructor, War HOGG Tactical

29-Year U.S. Army Special Operations Combat Veteran

Real encounters don't happen when you're fresh, rested, and standing still on a flat range. They happen when your heart's pounding, lungs are burning, muscles are fatigued, and adrenaline is spiking. This is why we conduct stress shoots, shooting under physical duress — Under the intensity of physical exertion, a participant in a stress shoot hurries forward, embodying the challenges of real-life encounters with adrenaline high and muscles fatigued.

In every War HOGG Tactical law enforcement firearms training course, whether it's our red dot pistol, combat carbine, or full Project Officer Survival law enforcement red dot pistol courses, stress shoots (shooting under physical duress) are a non-negotiable staple. Why? Because real encounters don't happen when you're fresh, rested, and standing still on a flat range. They happen when your heart's pounding, lungs are burning, muscles are fatigued, and adrenaline is spiking. Training to shoot accurately and efficiently in that state builds the composure and skill needed to win when it matters.

This concept comes straight from my time as Special Forces Advanced Urban Combat (SFAUC) Combat Marksmanship Instructor, where a stress shoot was always administered before continuing to close quarters combat (CQB) and Special Operations experience: stress inoculation on the range simulates the chaos of combat or high-risk calls. At War HOGG, we use functional tools like GORUCK sandbags to spike heart rate and induce fatigue quickly, exactly like the duress from pursuits, fights, or gear-heavy movements. The result? Shooters see immediate feedback on grip, trigger control, dot tracking, target indexing, and gear shake out under real physical duress.

Expanded Benefits of Stress Shoots for Law Enforcement Officers, Armed Civilians and Tactical Athletes

Stress shoots aren't just about getting sweaty, they deliver measurable gains rooted in real-world prep. Here's why we emphasize them:

Stress Inoculation: Builds tolerance to adrenaline dumps, slowing decision-making degradation under pressure. Smooth square-range shooters often falter here, but progressive exposure changes that.
Performance Under Fatigue: Fatigue impairs shot placement and threat neutralization speed. These drills teach quick, accurate engagement despite mental/physical exhaustion.
Equipment Testing: Reveals kit flaws, like holsters shifting or mags failing out under dynamic conditions aka the yard sale.
Mental Toughness & Competition: Adds timers or peer grading to mimic high-stakes scenarios, boosting focus and resilience. Competition motivates clean runs.
Improved First-Shot Accuracy: Techniques like tactical breathing integrated into drills can enhance initial hits, crucial in defensive situations.
Overall Readiness: Prepares for combat-like stress, reducing hormone spikes that drop your shooting performance.

I've seen officers transform: from shaky under duress to composed shooters. 5 Students credit this for surviving real world deadly force encounters.

Core Setup for War HOGG Tactical Stress Shoots, Shooting Under Physical Duress

Distance: Typically 15 meters to a C-zone steel target (reactive feedback).
Ammo: Shooters start with 3 magazines (5 rounds each) for pistol-focused iterations.
Tool: 35 lb Brute Force / GORUCK sandbag
Bear-hug the sandbag and carry it to the firing line.
Drop bag and perform 3 War HOGG Burpees: Full burpee + overhead sandbag lift and slam/drop (spikes heart rate hard).
Immediately draw and load pistol (this works firearms manipulation under stress).
Engage: 5 shots freestyle (two-handed).
Reload and holster.
Carry sandbag back to start / finish line how ever you want.
Carry the sandbag in the STRONG hand to the firing line, 3 War HOGG Burpees, 5 shots STRONG Hand Only, reload, holster and bring the sandbag back to the start / finish line.
Carry the sandbag in the SUPORT hand to the firing line, 3 War HOGG Burpees, 5 shots SUPORT Hand Only, reload, holster and bring the sandbag back to the start / finish line.
Scoring: Each miss add +10 seconds to the overall time. Fastest time wins. Winners receive gifts from our industry partners.
Safety: Clear commands, graders help oversee safety, no running with loaded guns and everyone shots on the same yard line.

Detailed Iteration Stress Shoots, Shooting Under Physical Duress Examples (Law Enforcement Classes)

These are progressive, start simple, add complexity. We run them in series, often as a finisher after of a training day. Methods draw from elite units: physical stressors first, then shoot.

Iteration 1: Bear Hug Carry + War HOGG Burpees (Full-Body Spike)

Bear-hug the sandbag and carry it ~35 meters to the firing line.
Drop bag and perform 3 War HOGG Burpees: Full burpee + overhead sandbag lift and slam/drop (spikes heart rate hard).
Immediately draw and load pistol (this works firearms manipulation under stress).
Engage: 5 shots freestyle (two-handed).
Reload and holster.
Carry sandbag back to start.
Goal: Train full-body fatigue into accurate shooting, mimics post-pursuit or struggle scenarios.

Iteration 2: Strong-Hand Carry + Burpees (One-Handed Challenge)

Carry sandbag in strong hand only for 35 meters to the firing line 15 meters from the target.
3 War HOGG Burpees.
Draw, load pistol, 5 shots strong-hand only.
Return sandbag to start finish line and conduct two more iterations.
Scoring is the same as above add 10 seconds per miss to the overall time.
Goal: Build confidence in one-handed shooting under duress, critical for weapon retention or injured-arm situations.
K9 Adaptation: Hold a GORUCK sandbag (or BAMF hammer/ammo can/kettlebell) in support hand to simulate controlling your dog while shooting one-handed.

Iteration 3: Throws + Bear Crawls (No Burpees – Explosive & Ground-Based)

Perform lateral throws (side-to-side sandbag toss) 35 meters to the firing line.
Engage: 5 shots freestyle (2 hands)
Return via carry of choise or add a bear crawl return.
Forward Throws with the sandbag, 5 shots strong hand, and return to start / finish line.
Bear Crawls with the sandbag, 5 shots support hand and return to stop the clock.
Goal: Mimic ground fights, explosive movements, or obstacle navigation, tests stability and recoil control after dynamic effort.

Additional Variations & Methods

Pistol-to-Carbine Transitions: Add carbine pick-up after fatigue for failure-to-stop or multi-threat drills.
Gear Add-Ons: Run with vest/plate carrier, helmet, or tourniquet applied mid-iteration.
Time Pressure: Shot timers for par times or head-to-head races, basic stress inducer.
Low-Light/Night: Flashlight in support hand after fatigue.
Breathing Integration: Incorporate box breathing (4-4-4-4) or tactical breathing pre-shot to steady heart rate and boost accuracy.
Army-Style Events: Rotate through 6 physical stations (e.g., push-ups, sprints) with 3 rounds fired at each, full stress cycle.
Beginner Mods: Lighter sandbag, fewer reps/burpees, shorter distances, or dry fire only.

Final Thoughts on Stress Shoots, Shooting Under Physical Duress

These aren't punishment, they're a tool to make you stronger and a better shooter. Students hate the War HOGG Burpee at first... then they love the results: tighter groups, faster draws, better composure. I've had officers credit this exact training for performing under real stress in the field.

If you're serious about tactical readiness, incorporate physical duress into your range time. Start small, carry a sandbag, do a few burpees, then shoot. Scale up as you build capacity.

Train like your life depends on it, because it does! Be 1% better every day.

Check warhogg.com for upcoming courses (we build stress shoots into every law enforcement event), grab The Firearms Training Notebook to log your fitness & Firearms iterations, and listen to On The Range Podcast for more Words of Wisdom on this topic.

Train hard, stay safe, and I'll see you on the range – Rick Hogg