It would appear that during the early smokeless powder transition years, there was some real fuss and confusion between the low-powered rifle shooters and the high-powered rifle shooters....very much the same as today. There was certainly talk about the powders, velocities and pressures to be used, as well as the use of the Special Steel Barrels.

During this time there was grandpa's black powder cartridges, the son's new smokeless powder replacements and the grandkids new fangled high-powered Winchester 30-30 and the Savage 303! In between the fuss of those two, were the "middle of the roaders"...black powder cartridges that were now offered with smokeless... and the confusion began!

Much talk about all of this in the old 1899 through 1920's magazines, books, articles...especially about burning out the bores...you know the spill! From what can be found, the two most popular mentioned cartridges for this argument were the 32-40 and 38-55 cartridges...and for good reason. Not only was the 38-55 loaded with black powder, it was also loaded with low-pressure smokeless and high-pressure smokeless powders....thus the confusion was real...even back then.

The 38-55 loaded with black powder could be used in any barrel. The Low-Pressure, "bulk for bulk" smokeless powder 38-55 loads could also be used in the black powder barrels. The reason was the "bulk for bulk" low-pressure powders burned cooler and the velocities slower than the high-pressured powders, thus safe (or at least "Safer") for the soft steel barrels. The problem began when folks tried to use the high-pressure "dense" powders (30 cal smokeless powders like WA30 or Dupont 30 cal). The heat generated would certainly burn the riffling over time.....or could blow the chamber or barrel of the softer steel types.. Some say 3,000 rounds is what it took to burn out the bore, but even then, diminishing only mere inches per groups. Nevertheless, eventually the hotter burning powders would certainly cause the rifling to wear away and even powders like Sharpshooter were still corrosive on the bores of the softer steel over time.

Winchester used the low-pressure cooler burning powders in most of those types of cartridges, even the .44-40 W.H.V. was labeled as a "Low-Pressure" load although it produced between 18,000cup and 22,000cup (Winchester claimed 18,000cup service pressure in 1917). This "low-pressure" designation was not a reference of those particular loads being safe for all arms, contrary, Winchester warned against using such loads in the Winchester 73' and revolvers. Again, however, the "Sharpshooter" powder used was still corrosive to the bore. The reason for the low-pressure call-out was to describe, in comparison, to the newer high-pressure cartridges on the market. The 30-40 Krag and .303 Savage at the time were the high-pressure beasts. It was said that the 32-40 and 38-55 were somewhat next in line, from being a black powder cartridge, being able to morph into the high-pressure, high-power cartridge line of ammunition. And of course, lets not forget the 30-30.

In 1900, A. H. Stillwell speaks of the 30-30, 45-70, and the 38-55 on using such new smokeless powders. He also speaks of using high-pressure powder and splitting the barrels, rather than using the correct low-pressure smokeless powders for those weaker arms. He then follows up and says; “Everything considered, a black powder gun with low-pressure smokeless is good enough for me.”

Winchester boasted on the use of THEIR MAKE of cartridges being safe for the 35-55 soft steel barrels... and now you know the reason why!

"Special Steel Barrels"

There has been much debate over the past many years about using smokeless powder in soft steel, black-powder barrels. Even early on, shortly after the introduction of smokeless powders, such concerns were illustrated in the writings found in magazines and books. It would appear, however, that the concerns back then were slightly different than today. Most seemed concerned about damaging the bore rather than blowing the barrels.

“Special Steel” barrels being offered at the time were not used for low pressure cartridges such as the 44-40’s normal loads for the Winchester Model 73’ nor even for the 44-40 W.H.V. loads for the Winchester Model 92’. This has been the case with all “Low-Pressure” designated cartridges of yesteryear.

Aside from the Model 94’era 30-30 barrels, the lack of understanding really seems to get popular in the old article publications between 1899 to 1920 magazines and books, with the 32-40 and 38-55 variant cartridges and rifles. Seldom seen was a concern with blowing up a black powder barrel when using low-pressure smokeless loads. The concern was wearing out the bore with jacketed (full patch) bullets using the corrosive line of non "bulk for bulk" powders. However, do not confuse this with shooting a dangerously high pressure load, unsafe for a particular firearm with the more dense, hotter burning smokeless powders.

The transition from low-pressure to high-pressure and low-velocity to high-velocity is where the talk concentrated about Special Steel barrels, namely the 38-55 black powder barrels and high-power smokeless load barrels.

Excerpts from the following article shows such concerns of which we hear even today. However, today the concerns are more about the barrel blowing up than back then. 

Click the links for more detailed information.

With that said, right there is why we need to understand what is meant between High-Pressure vs Low-Pressure, regardless of high velocity or low velocity….as well as…the reason for the switch from soft steel to special steel.

Also, keep in mind that even though the above 1902 information is nearly ten years into using smokeless powder era, the High-Velocity/Low-Pressure is another new Nomenclature!

1903

Western Field

The Sportsman's Magazine of the West · Volume 2

This 1903 article introduces the new High Velocity cartridges by Winchester for the Model 92’ and Model 86’. Noted is the part about…” A feature of all the high velocity cartridges is that they can be used by persons who dislike the high-power small caliber cartridges on account of their great range.”

1904

 Western Field

The Sportsman’s Magazine of the West · Volume 4

“SOME NEW MARLIN DEPARTURES.

Interesting announcement comes from The Marlin Fire Arms Co., New Haven, Conn. concerning a new line of goods the company is marketing this season, which will attract wide attention among a large class of sportsmen and lovers of the rifle.

The company is now arranging a line of their famous repeating rifles, Model 1893, to be known among the trade Grade “B”. These rifles will be in every respect the same as the regular Model 1893 with the exception that the barrels will be made of the highest obtainable grade of soft gun barrel steel instead of their “Special Smokeless Steel”. The intention is to meet the large demand for a high-class, carefully made arm on the part of many shooters who are not sufficiently interested in the smokeless steel barrels to pay for the extra cost. The new line is, of course, not intended for high power smokeless ammunition and its use in this grade is not advised by the makers: only black powder ammunition and equivalent loads such as low power smokeless should be used. The 32-40 and 38-55 sizes only will be made in this grade.

The line will consist of the carbine with 15-inch round barrel weighing 6 1/4 pounds and carrying five shots, or with 20-inch round barrel weighing 6 3/4 pounds and carrying seven shots. With the regular round barrels in 26-inch to 32-inch lengths the rifle may be had weighing 7 to 7 3/4 pounds. Octagon barrels are furnished 26-inches to 32-inches long the rifles weighing 7 1/2 pounds to 8 1/2 pounds. These rifles can be furnished in short half or full magazine. They accommodate a wide range of cartridges and all the popular ammunition with the exception noted above regarding high power smokeless powder.”

1906 

Outdoor Life, Volume 17

Mr. Whelen regarding manufacturing costs… (I love the 44-40 remark by Winchester).

This article covers some explanation of the extra cost of the newer high-power arms and cartridges. It also mentions that the 44-40 is “sold in immense quantities and they had machines running upon it all the time”.

1920

The Outdoorsman's Handbook

The Accuracy of Hunting Rifles

…again from your favorite Mr. Townsend Whelen.

First I’d like to touch on what was I found to be expected accuracy from some of these rifles...

For the past several years, through my experiences, I began to settle on ten shot groups with the 44-40. I felt it better tells the story of true accuracy rather than the typical three shot groups popular today. I also settled on certain groups being about the best of the best for this cartridge at different ranges.

Recently I came across the following vintage 1920’s information from Whelen that is somewhat the same among the groups achieved at the distances used.

I came up with my consistent best which would be 4″ at 25 yards with a revolver, (scoped) 3.5″ at 100 yards with a rifle, 9″ at 200 yards and 29 of 37 shots inside 14″ at nearly 300 yards. Doc Pardee also shared his 1873 results of about 4.16" 40 shout group at 110 yards with open sights.

My results seem to be fairly consistent with this 1920 information. I thought some of these other cartridges may be of interest to some of you.My targets can be seen over in the targets section.

Townsand Whelen also mentioned the use of a scope for some...but I have no idea which ones.

"In a number of cases a telescope sight was used to make certain of the aim and in the others an English orthoptic was used with open sights."

(1) Over 200 yards grouping is irregular 

(2) Over 150 yards grouping is irregular Many black powder rifles listed in 

(*) Rem Auto cartridges will show equal accuracy in Remington or Stevens rifles. Classes B and C will rank in Class A when used with hand loaded ammunition loaded by an expert 

In General - 1895 Smokeless Cartridges, Popularity

• Military - 30-40 Krag (30 Army), (40gr smokeless powder)

• Military - 303 Britiish (40gr smokeless powder), (NOT THE SAME AS THE 303 Savage)

• Civilian - 30-30 Winchester (30gr smokeless powder)

• Civilian - 303 Savage (30gr smokeless powder) (NOT THE SAME AS THE 303 British)(1895 shows a barrel elastic strength up to 60,000lbs. with a barrel and breeching mechanism which are made to resist a tensile strength of 100,000 pounds to the square inch

By 1905, Smokeless Powders were divided in two classes, low and high pressure. The first named being mostly used in old black powder cartridges the latter for cartridges of the military type. 

• Black Powder - Low Pressure

• Smokeless Powder - Low and High Pressures

     a. Low Pressure - maybe less than 30,000 lbs. "Bulk for Bulk" powders and some "Bulky" dense powders

     b. High Pressure - greater than at least 30,000 lbs. slower burning rifle powders, WA-30, Lightning, .30-Cal smokeless

Sporting Smokeless Powders were also divided into two general classes ~ "Nitrocellulose Industry" by Edward Chauncey Worden, 1911

• Bulk - "Sharpshooter" (not bulk for bulk, and loaded by weight not volume) The Nitrocellulose has been produced in sufficiently light and porous loose granulars by mechanical means so that in equal volumes they possess about the same ballistics as black powder.

• Condensed - Represents the maximum of propulsive force in the minimum of space...prepared in the same manor as the military flake powder. Condensed smokeless powders designed for the more modern rifles. [1911]

By 1918, Townsand Whelen noted some nomenclatures.

• Small Bore - .35 cal. and smaller

• Large Bore - larger than .35 cal.

• Low Power - up to 1,750fps - although some velocities and pressures not suitable for weak design rifles. .44 "Winchester High Velocity" / "Low Pressure"(1,560fps) loads fits into this category, and does not change this designation.

• High Power - greater than 1,750fps - Although not always stamped on the barrel, special steel barrels needed (bore wear issues, not strength issues), 30-30, .303 Savage and the high power loaded 32-40 and 38-55 loads.

• High Intensity - Velocity greater than 2,400fps, - 30-40 Krag (30 Army), .30 cal. 1903, .30 cal. 1906, etc.

W.A. and Lightning powders contained about 25 per cent and Sharpshooter and Infallible about 38 per cent nitroglycerine. The series of rifle powders now put out by the Dupont Company such as Military No. 10, Military No. 20, and Military No. 21, contain no nitroglycerine. The presence of nitroglycerine enables us to obtain high velocities with minimum chamber pressures, but the heat of the gases causes serious erosion in the barrels if used at pressures above 35,000 to 40,000 pounds per square inch. ~Outdoor Life, April 1915 

Powder or Cartridge - Which Came First?

Evolution and Necessity

Other By: R.H. VanDenburg, Jr. | April, 23

LINK to full article

The below excerpt somewhat shows a lineage from the High-Powered 1894 30-40 Krag through the advent of our greater high-powered hunting cartridge, the 30-06...and the beginning of the rest of the story of our High-Powered cartridges and their powders!

...The W.A. [W.A. .30-Cal.] powder that was used in the early military of the .30-06 [starting with the 30-40 Krag in 1894] gave way to a single-base powder, successively known as DuPont 1909 Military, DuPont Military #20 and Government Pyro .30 Caliber DG. It served as our service .30-06 powder through World War I and was standardized as a canister powder under the name DuPont MR 20. The MR series of DuPont powders was replaced by an early IMR series, which included such powders as MR 13, 15, 16, 17 and others. Technological improvements continued, and by 1935 DuPont had introduced an improved IMR series that contained powders familiar to us today: IMR-4227, 4198, 3031, 4064 and 4320. IMR-4895, 4350, 4831 and 7828 were still to come. As was often the case, many of these powders were developed to meet some military need but were found to exhibit great versatility across the cartridge spectrum. Of course, as new and better powders were developed, the civilian market expanded its cartridge offerings....