One of my guys that work for me was looking over my shoulder as I was going through this thread. He looked at me and said "Hey Boss, why do those guys need shotgun stuff for their pistols? Ain't they good enough to shoot 'em off the dirt like you do with your hogleg?" I explained that sometimes the snake is moving pretty much of the time that makes a fast kill kinda hard to do. He shrugged and started to walk away, then turned and said "Well you need one of those little flute things to charm 'em into stayin' put so you can put a bullet in 'em." I told him shotshells for pistols are a very good tool to have when in snake country. My troop is kinda unique as he sees things through very narrow eyes! He walked away shaking his head....
However, I was thinking for a overwad either in a cartridge or a C&B one could use a lead disk about 3/16" or better thick in place of a wad. It whould hold the shot in place with a cartridge. And may hold the shot in place with a C&B revolver as well....maybe...Lighter and shorter than placing a ball over the shot, that's for sure.
If time permits, I'll try this and see if there is any merit to it. It might work....or at best it's something to think about for improvement if my theory strikes out... My only worry would be that the disk would get stuck in the bore and cause an obstruction. Now that would not be good, but I'm hoping that the shot would force the disk out in such a manner that this fear of obstruction would not come about.
Wade