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44-40 Smokeless Powder Timeline starting with the development by the military in 1892 for the 30-40 Krag and what was available to the civilian market thereafter
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DateManufacturePowder NameLabel DateFrontBackPowder Charge for the 44-40NotesNotes
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1892 1896Military testing with smokeless powders begins in 1892 for developing a smokeless powder for the new 30-40 Krag cartridge. Peyton, Leonard, Troisdorf and Wettaren powders were tested. Wetteren powder had been the military's "Standard" base of which other powders were compared.
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1893 TestThe California Smokeless Powder WorksPeyton Smokeless Rifle Powder?
Peyton - Date unknown but was one of two superior powders tested by the US Military in 1893
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1893 TestLeonard Powder CompanyRuby Sporting Shotgun Powder?
Leonard - One of two superior powders tested by the US military during 1893. Not sure if it was Ruby Smokeless or Ruby Sporting powder that was testedEventually purchased by American Smokeless Powder Company, financed by Laflin & Rand and eventually became Laflin & Rand W-A- .30
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1894By mid 1894, nearly 200,000 lbs of Peyton powder had been used or stored for use by the military with the .30 cal. .308 cartridges. Mostly only designated by test numbers, formulas constantly changing, it really is not known what powder designated names were actually used. At one point Leonard N7/16 looks just like Sharpshooter granulars.
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1894 1926Du PontNo. 2 Rifle (Rifle and Revolvers)1918
17gr, rifle or revolver use, Bulk for Bulk, loaded by volume Winchester used Du Pont No.2 in thier 44-40 factory loads from 1895 until about 1925 when they switched to Sharpshooter
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1895By 1895 Peyton powders were the powders of choice by the military and some 5,000 lbs more ordered. Whistler & Aspinwall specifically named and a designation of W.-A. was used.
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1896By 1896 the military was still testing "Samples" from quite a few companies but had contracts (1896-1897) for three; Peyton, Dupont and W.-A. (Leonard)(American Smokeless Powder Company) now controlled by Laflin & Land. Ruby was mentioned a few times but seems to have been tested in larger cannon type rifles and mortars.
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1896 1900Laflin & RandSporting Rifle Smokeless1896
17gr, rifle or revolver use, Bulk for Bulk, loaded by volume Loads shown on Dupont's and Winchester's loading charts as late as 1907
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1897...ending June 30th, 1897...The Peyton powder at present manufactured by the California Powder Works and the Du Pont Company is now used for the 30 caliber service ammunition and is satisfactory. In addition to the contracts made with these companies for the supply of powder during the current year a contract has been made with the Laflin & Rand Powder Company for a quantity to be delivered subject to test and this com pany is now experimenting to produce a 30 caliber powder along the lines of its W A powders. In previous tests this powder has shown excellent ballistic results but produced undue erosion of the bore of the rifle It has been found that the endurance of a rifle firing the Peyton powder will readily exceed 5,000 rounds and the specifications for the 30 caliber powder now include a test for erosica under which the erosion of the bore after firing 5,000 rounds must not materially exceed that exhibited by the rifle barrel No 21244 which has been fired 5,000 rounds and will be retained at Frankford Arsenal as a present standard of reference. It is now also provided that each invoice lot of powder must be thoroughly blended by the manufacturer.
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1897 1948Laflin & RandSharpshooter1900
0gr use noted Dense, but "Bulky", loaded by weightWinchester started using Sharpshooter for all thier factory 44-40 loads starting in 1925. There was a transition period from between 1948 to well into the 1950's, between Winchester cartridges and Western's cartridges, before finally switching to a flattened ball powder by 1958Winchester started using Sharpshooter powder for the 44 W.H.V. loads in 1903, through 1948 until supplies exhausted
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Du PontSharpshooter1912
15gr, Low Velocity 19gr, High Velocity (HV not for pistols or weak action rifles) Bulky, loaded by weightNoted in some early 1900 magazine articles, several references to low and high velocity loads. Low velocity meaning normal factory loads.
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HerculesSharpshooter1913
15gr, Low Velocity 19gr, High Velocity (HV not for pistols or weak action rifles) bulky, loaded by weightNoted in some early 1900 magazine articles, several references to low and high velocity loads. Low velocity meaning normal factory loads.
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HerculesSharpshooter1936
15gr, Low Velocity 19.6gr, High Velocity (HV not for pistols or weak action rifles) bulky, loaded by weightNoted in some early 1900 magazine articles, several references to low and high velocity loads. Low velocity meaning normal factory loads.
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1898 PresentLaflin & RandBullseye?
0gr use noted, very dense, loaded by weight
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Laflin & RandBullseye1902
0gr use noted, very dense, loaded by weight
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HerculesBullseye1927
7gr, For Revolver Use, very dense, loaded by weightHercules started dating their cans by 1927
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HerculesBullseye No.21937
6.7gr for revolver use, very dense, loaded by weightLOADS ARE FOR 15,000cup revolver
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1898 1958Laflin & RandLightning #11898
0gr use noted, bulky, loded by weightBP replacement, rifle/revolver. Replaced SR Smokeless
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Laflin & RandW-A .30 Cal
0gr use noted, bulky loaded by weight1898-1930
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Laflin & RandLightning1903
0gr use noted, bulky loaded by weight
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HerculesLightning1914
24.2gr low velocity loads noted in handload manuals for 1937. 26.7gr high velocity loads noted in handloading manuals in 1937, bulky loaded by weight
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1899By March 22, 1899, for service use...The experiments for the development of a satisfactory powder for the 45 caliber rifle were continued during the year and a suitable powder was determined upon in February. It differs from the for the 30 caliber rifle only in being of finer granulation. This powder was adapted to the 500 grain bullet. The experiments with the 405 grain bullet had not been brought to a termination when the war broke out and stopped them. It was found desirable to use a bullet of a diameter equal to that of the bottom of the grooves in order to assure with certainty that the bullet would take the grooves and a steady flight
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1901Laflin & RandLaflin & Rand "US Springfield 45"
SMOKELESS POWDERS FOR .45 CALIBER RIFLE — NOT CONTRACT. A sample of Laflin & Rand's smokeless powder for .45 caliber rifle was examined . Its shape was that of small, flat, circular disks, graphited , very fine, being retained only by the 0.03-inch sieve. Service and ballistic tests given below. Latlin & Rand smokeless powder, .45 caliber: Lot 23, from United States Cartridge Company ; lot 47 , from Union Metallic Cartridge Com pany ; lot 48, from Union Metallic Cartridge Company, were examined for stability . All three gave trace in forty to forty - five minutes. King's smokeless powder, .45 caliber, No. 1 , fine grain , black , irregular shape like " black " powder, and King's smokeless powder, .45 caliber, No. 2 , fine grain , of a slaty -black color and irregular shape like “ black ” powder, were put through a portion of the service tests as given below . These two powders were received September 10, 1898, and October 8, 1898, respectively . Chief of ord, 1899Specifically designed for the 45-70 Springfield rifle, some say it is Sharpshooter powder.
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1900 PresentLaflin & RandUnique1900
0gr use noted, dense, loaded by weightFormulated from Infallible shotgun powder and purposefully used as a reduced load powder for the .30 cal. gov't rifles and revolvers
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Hercules1914
0gr use noted, dense loaded by weight
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HerculesUnique1935
10.9gr for revolvers 11.3gr for rifle use, dense loaded by weightLOADS ARE FOR 16,000cup rifles and 15,000cup revolver
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1909 1913Du PontRSQ
6gr for use in revolvers, bulky loaded by weightMagazine articles report RSQ as still being advertized through 1935
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1913 -Du PontSporting Rifle #80 (SR80)
13.7gr, lead, rifle 18gr, MC, rifle 15.3gr, lead, revolver bulky loaded by weight
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1920 -Du PontPistol #5
11.5gr, lead, revolver use
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Du PontPistol #5
10gr, reduced for revolver use
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1925 -Du Pont#12041930's
25gr normal rifle loads 30gr high velocity
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1926Handloading Data
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1932Hercules24001935
25.4gr, JSP, 20,000cupIn a Hercules 1937 ad, explains thier new labels with load data on thier new canisters.
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1935 -Du PontIMR-42271930's
29gr for high velocity rifle use only. Direct Replacement For IMR-1204 It would appear that the load data labels were discontinued by WWII
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1937HerculesAd informs of new canisters with load data still on back label.