Henry Rifle Forums

In cowboy action shooting, shooting duelist is defined as shooting a traditional style single action revolver cocked and fired one-handed, unsupported. In other words, shooting with one hand from a standing position.

Started doing some of this, last week, just to add a little variety, while taking a break from some of my other types of shooting. Don't know how "practical" it is, but it sure is fun. Just happened to have two of my favorite single action revolvers with me, but the were in 22 LR, which would not be legal in actual cowboy action competition.

Ruger Bisley Single Six 22 LR.
Love this gun. Very easy to shoot. Got it so I would have one single action 22 LR with adjustable sights (this one) and another with fixed sights (my Taylor/Uberti Cattleman). The Bisley grip makes for a very comfy hold for one-hand work.


No attempt at fancy target work, here. Just relax, let the sights settle and keep pouring them in the black. Fun, fun, fun. Up close at 12 yards with a big 6" bull.


Taylor/Uberti Cattleman 22 LR.
Yeah, my good buddy, here. Never get tired of shooting this one. Has a healthy appetite for ammo, though, what with its 12 shot cylinder.


Decided it was time for a bit more of a challenge, so I shrunk the bull down from a 6" to a wee 2" and stepped back several yards to 16 yards. Didn't keep them all in the black, but close.


Did I mention I love shooting single action revolvers? Yeah, just something about shucking those empties and reloading a single action that brings out the cowgirl in me. Double action revolvers may be more practical and convenient to reload, but they don't make me hum an old cowboy tune the way I do when shooting one of these beauties.


"Happy trails to you, until we meet, again. Happy trails to you ..."

Very cool NCG! thanks for sharing and amazing shooting as usual!

nicely done (as always) .... I haven't fired that way in many years .... unfortunately, I no longer have a handgun that lends itself to "duelist style" shooting

Great shooting. Classic 1 handed old west style.

I practice that whenever I am at the range with my Rough Rider. Didn't know it was an actual 'thing.'

Great job NCG taking out center of target one handed!
I shoot my revolvers a lot using the duelist style. Only times I don't is when shooting over my chrony or making 50+yd. shots.
Those shots would have me in my chair and shooting with gun propped on knee!

Thanks, guys.

Forty, that is some very serious duelist shooting, there, with one gun in each hand. Have to give that a try.

North Country Gal wrote: ↑

Thu Jul 11, 2019 2:07 pm

Thanks, guys.

Forty, that is some very serious duelist shooting, there, with one gun in each hand. Have to give that a try.

Here you go...a little action from that picture.https://youtu.be/FQHuU5XvNM0 Was shooting my Taylor's .45 Colt Birds head and the Ruger .45 ACP Birds head
revolvers.

Heard a lot of ringing there Forty!

Loved it, forty! Tanks for sharing. Curious, which one of those revolvers do you like the best?

North Country Gal wrote: ↑

Thu Jul 11, 2019 8:12 pm

Loved it, forty! Tanks for sharing. Curious, which one of those revolvers do you like the best?

I liked the Uberti/Taylors .45 Colt the best and have since traded the Ruger Birds head .45 ACP to a guy to get my first
.45 shooter back...my Ruger New Vaquero .45 Colt of 2005 issue.
The Uberti is a Colt sized frame and a bit lighter than the Ruger and the Uberti Birds head grip fit my hand better.
Also it came with the factory slicked up action.
Truth is the Uberti is the Taylors and Co. "Running Iron" Deluxe with the action package that I converted to the Birds head grip .

Careful here I think Forty might be trying to take that Huckleberry title away from Mark. Shootin all these huckleberry guns

Love to shoot "duelist style." Challenging and fun.
I'd bet the Russians or Americans probably shot the top break revolvers "дуэлянт, стреляющий."

Here is a collage of S&W .44 revolvers. Great-looking, simple, and quality firearms. My Russian .45 Colt would nicely fit here.
Smith & Wesson .44 Single Actions of the 1870s from top left clockwise,
an American, a pair of Model #3 Russians, and a New Model #3

Had a video on computer that died my son took at the range of someone shooting a pair of 460s&w, one in each hand.
Those X frame s&w are a massive revolver almost need 2 hands to hold them up let alone try to control them shooting factory 460 loads.

220 wrote: ↑

Fri Jul 12, 2019 6:10 am

Had a video on computer that died my son took at the range of someone shooting a pair of 460s&w, one in each hand.
Those X frame s&w are a massive revolver almost need 2 hands to hold them up let alone try to control them shooting factory 460 loads.

That will be 2 hands full!

and then there was the BFR .45-70...
https://youtu.be/7Wh5teFf5lc

That last shot the trigger guard slammed my knuckle by not having proper grip...ouch!
Those Hornady 325 gr. rounds I clocked at 1450 out the 5.5 inch barrel...a correction it was not 5.2.

Forty, interesting on your preference for the Uberti SAs versus the Ruger's. I also prefer the Colt clones. The slightly smaller frame of the Colt reproductions vs. the NM Vaquero is just enough of a difference for me to be comfortable shooting the Colt clones one-handed. On the NM Vaquero, that hammer is just too darn high for me to reach. I have to break my hold and contort my hand and wrist to cock the hammer on the NM Vaquero. (I'd probably change it out to a Super Blackhawk hammer as many do to get more comfy with it.) Being able to draw, cock and fire, one-handed, without having to contort my hand and wrist to cock the hammer may not sound like big deal, but it's much appreciated over a long shooting session and it would be absolutely essential if I ever found myself in a position where I HAD to draw and shoot with one hand, only.

PT, that is a wonderful collection of old Smiths. I think those Smiths and also the Remingtons played a much bigger role in the taming of the Old West than what we've gotten from Hollywood and those old dime novels. It certainly wasn't all Colts as many of us grew up to believe.

BigAl52 wrote: ↑

Thu Jul 11, 2019 11:28 pm

Careful here I think Forty might be trying to take that Huckleberry title away from Mark. Shootin all these huckleberry guns

Aint he a Daisy...

North Country Gal wrote: ↑

Fri Jul 12, 2019 10:20 am

Forty, interesting on your preference for the Uberti SAs versus the Ruger's. I also prefer the Colt clones. The slightly smaller frame of the Colt reproductions vs. the NM Vaquero is just enough of a difference for me to be comfortable shooting the Colt clones one-handed. On the NM Vaquero, that hammer is just too darn high for me to reach. I have to break my hold and contort my hand and wrist to cock the hammer on the NM Vaquero. (I'd probably change it out to a Super Blackhawk hammer as many do to get more comfy with it.) Being able to draw, cock and fire, one-handed, without having to contort my hand and wrist to cock the hammer may not sound like big deal, but it's much appreciated over a long shooting session and it would be absolutely essential if I ever found myself in a position where I HAD to draw and shoot with one hand, only.

The hammer pull on my ol' Ruger New Vaquero is really nice though. Bought it from the used gun case at the LGS back in 2009
and it was of the first year 2005 of the New Vaquero production. A nice tight and smooth .45 Colt shooter and glad I could get it back again
a keeper!