I'm currently dueling this guy in order to get some money for a woman (it's a side mission). So anyways, no matter what I seem to try, I can't ever NOT kill the guy. I've tried shooting his hand probably about 5 or 6 times now and it has never worked. The dude just shoots me dead and I have to load up my save and try again. 
 
So I'm wondering if anyone can tell me if I just suck, or maybe there's some duels in which you are forced to kill the other guy.

Yes, some people you have to kill. Shooting their gun wont work.

I've never been able to disarm guys. Besides for the second duel in Lucky in Love where you kill the guy in one shot, anytime I lock on to the arm, I have to put another 5 or so shots in. I don't think I really get how it works.

I'm pretty sure I know exactly what part of the game you're talking about.
 
Regardless, the hand thing is a pain in a ass sometimes and doesn't always register.  Sometimes though, you gotta shoot people in the face and chest cavity, no ways about it.
 
Edit:  When you come back to this topic, the best part will be WE ALL KNEW.

Is it in Blackwater? If so, yeah you have to kill that guy.

" Yes, some people you have to kill. Shooting their gun wont work. "

" Is it in Blackwater? If so, yeah you have to kill that guy. "

there are duels that you have to kill the dude no matter how much you aim at the arm, he'll just gain more meter and will kill you. if that happens, just kill him hehe! 
 
is the one in blackwater... 
 

" @CL60 said:

" Yes, some people you have to kill. Shooting their gun wont work. "

Well that's dumb. It should tell you in some way which ones you can and can't kill. "

" @JJWeatherman said:

" @CL60 said:

" Yes, some people you have to kill. Shooting their gun wont work. "

Well that's dumb. It should tell you in some way which ones you can and can't kill. "

Real cowboys duel to the death, man! "

The pimp you duel in the Mexican cemetery deserved to die more than the Blackwater guy.

that does remind me of something i keep meaning to ask...
 

You absolutely do have to kill that guy. I'm pretty sure, anyway; I got a perfect shot on his hand and it didn't autofill.

" I'm actually quite curious about dueling in this game.  I've never played the game, but just by glancing at the comments, it appears you can do a lot to a man's body with bullets in this game.  I've always wanted to play this game and I wanted to know: can I re-create the scene from GTA 4, where you, ya know...       *Spoilers*   brutally gun down Dimitri,  that bastard who double-crosses everybody in the game?  *Spoilers*   Or is it less intricate than that?     I also wanted to know if shots to the kneecaps or gun arm are considered disarm menouvers or not.  Finally, will shots "beow the belt" kill a man like they did in MGS2? "

I am still getting the grips of disarming someone in a duel, the honour and fame boost is nice, but... I'd rather my life.

" @Rxanadu said:

" I'm actually quite curious about dueling in this game.  I've never played the game, but just by glancing at the comments, it appears you can do a lot to a man's body with bullets in this game.  I've always wanted to play this game and I wanted to know: can I re-create the scene from GTA 4, where you, ya know...       *Spoilers*   brutally gun down Dimitri,  that bastard who double-crosses everybody in the game?  *Spoilers*   Or is it less intricate than that?     I also wanted to know if shots to the kneecaps or gun arm are considered disarm menouvers or not.  Finally, will shots "beow the belt" kill a man like they did in MGS2? "

Yes, you can recreate Dimitris death. No, shots to the kneecaps or arms are not disarms but, shooting their shooting hand does result in a disarm. Pretty sure (but not completely) that shots to the groin can kill someone. "

No, as stated earlier, you have to kill some guys. And this pisses me off, because it's never stated who to kill and who to decide who lives and dies, so some duels feels just broken. I got confused from time to time because I normally shot their gun, but sometimes that just lead to Marston standing there like a total moron (and bulletmagnet). 

" @JJWeatherman: I don't think so. At least not when I do it. "