Your marksmanship may be excellent, but can you hit a target while under pressure? We’re not talking about a John Wick movie, but a real-world situation where life and limb are truly at stake. Stress, urgency, fear, and the unpredictability of a self-defense encounter can impact even the most experienced shooter. To help you maximize your shooting skills, we’ve compiled five core training exercises that can supplement range practice.
Why Stress Training Matters
Before getting into the details, it’s worth taking a second look at how stress really affects your shooting accuracy. When adrenaline surges, your body reacts whether you want it to or not—your heart starts pounding, your vision tunnels, and your hands lose some of their fine motor control. These are natural responses, but they make it a lot harder to aim and shoot precisely, even up close.
Shooting at paper targets in ideal lighting with no time pressure builds solid fundamentals, but it doesn’t prepare you for the chaos of a real confrontation. That’s where stress-based training comes in. It helps you adapt your skills so they still work when your body’s in fight-or-flight mode.
Law enforcement and military professionals understand this connection and rely on training to improve outcomes in these life-and-death encounters. Civilian shooters can also benefit from this approach by incorporating controlled stress exercises into their training. The net result is sharpened mental focus and improved muscle memory when seconds matter.
Tip #1: Practice Drawing from Concealment
Drawing a firearm from concealment is an art form. This action is significantly different from range work, which may involve using an open holster. Instead, you have to navigate around clothing, and while stress may have already peaked.
Focus on the following elements:
Garment Clearance: Use your support hand to move clothing out of the way cleanly and efficiently. Jackets, hoodies, and untucked shirts all behave differently. If possible, practice in a close-quarters setting to get familiar with not having unrestricted use of both hands.
Solid Grip: A proper draw involves having a full, firm grip on the gun before extracting it from the holster. Otherwise, you may fumble the draw or struggle to fire accurately.
Consistent Motion: Just like shooting requires a smooth and steady action, so does your draw. The draw needs to be predictable and repeatable while following a path that works with your body and the holster configuration.
On-Target Presentation: Raise the gun to eye level and lock in your sight picture—or align the laser dot—as you complete the draw.
Concentrate first on technique rather than speed. You can then increase speed without sacrificing control. The critical point here isn’t to focus on speed, but on the ability to consistently and confidently put your gun in play. To add more realism, train in clothes you actually wear, taking into account different seasons.
Tip #2: Use a Laser Sight for Instant Feedback
A laser sight can be a powerful tool for improving your overall shooting accuracy, especially when you're trying to figure out how to shoot better under stress. It removes the guesswork from your aim and provides instant feedback on what needs improvement.
Why laser sights make a difference during practice:
Instant Correction: Watch how the dot moves during trigger press. Any shaking or dipping shows problems with grip or trigger control.
Easier Aiming Under Stress: When fine motor control deteriorates, a bright red or green dot is easier to track than lining up iron sights.
Dry-Fire Friendly: Use it at home without live rounds to test the accuracy of your aim and trigger press.
Low-Light Advantage: In dark conditions where iron sights are hard to see, a laser can help keep you aligned and on target.
Make this part of your regular concealed carry training. Alternate between iron sights and a laser during drills so you're confident with both techniques. Pay special attention to the laser dot during dry-fire exercises. A dot that jumps during the trigger pull means you’re unintentionally rushing or jerking.
Tip #3: Use Timed Drills to Build Pressure
Try adding a shot clock if you want to improve your shooting under stress. A time limit forces you to make quick decisions while still maintaining accuracy, which is precisely what matters in a critical defense situation.
Here are some go-to CCW drills to improve aim and stress tolerance:
Ball and Dummy Drill: Load dummy rounds at random. The flinch you make on a click shows anticipation problems that need work.
5x5 Drill: Shoot five rounds in five seconds from five yards into a five-inch circle. This is an excellent exercise for learning how to blend speed and precision.
Mozambique Drill: Firing two quick shots into the torso and one to the head builds quick target transitions and shooting control.
Draw and Fire: Sometimes, the basics are best. Using concealment, draw and fire a single shot at the seven-yard target in under three seconds. Consistent practice will improve speed and presentation style.
Even when using a shot clock, the ultimate goal isn’t about being the fastest. Instead, the idea is to maintain shooting accuracy in high-stress situations. The shot clock creates pressure to simulate what you might experience in an actual self-defense scenario.
Tip #4: Train for Low-Light Situations
Training only in daylight settings may leave you at a distinct disadvantage if a defensive situation arises in the dark, which isn’t unrealistic. Comprehensive concealed carry training includes learning how to operate in dim or low-light conditions.
Ways to train for the dark:
Use a weapon light in short bursts: Just flash it long enough to see what you’re dealing with, then make your move. Leaving it on too long can give away your position.
Rely on your laser in the dark: When it’s too dark to use iron sights, a laser helps you stay on target without guessing.
Get comfortable with your flashlight setup: If you use a handheld light, try different ways of holding it with your gun. There’s no one “right” way; just use what feels steady and controlled.
Train when lighting isn't perfect: Practice during early morning, late evening, or in dimly lit indoor spaces. It’s the best way to get used to shooting in conditions that aren’t ideal.
Low-light work trains your brain as much as your hands; both are necessary for muscle memory. Non-daylight drills can help you prepare when positive identification becomes harder and the risk of mistakes increases. This is an ideal method for testing your focus and judgment while maintaining shooting accuracy.
Tip #5: Train to Move, Then Shoot
Standing in one place and shooting holes in paper targets is a good starting point, but this type of practice has its limits when it comes to an actual self-defense situation. Adding movement drills to the equation is essential. You should only perform these exercises where it’s safe and appropriate to do so. This training is excellent for supplementing dry-fire drills.
Here’s how to make mobility part of your skillset:
Side-Step and Fire: Train yourself to sidestep and shoot smoothly. It forces you to stabilize and reset your aim on the fly.
Use Cover Correctly: Practice peeking and aiming around barriers without exposing yourself unnecessarily.
Sprint to Cover: Don’t just shoot from cover—practice moving to it first. This mimics real-world reactions.
Shoot on the Move: Harder, but worth it. Practice walking forward, backward, and sideways while staying on target.
You don’t have to start off doing full tactical maneuvers. Begin by adding movement between static positions; then layer in shooting as you go. Once you've mastered the basics, create mock scenarios in your own environment. The garage, hallway, or even backyard can become training zones. The more familiar the environment, the more realistic the training.
Laser Sights: A Self-Defense Essential
ArmaLaser handgun laser sights are precision-engineered to work with dozens of popular handgun models. Visit the ArmaLaser store to explore your options. Customer support is available online or by calling (800) 680-5020.
Read the ArmaLaser blog for articles on concealed carry laws, real-world concealed carry issues, essential self-defense topics, and more.
DISCLAIMER: This article is for educational purposes only and is based on correct firearm handling and lawful use. This information is not a substitute for proper training.