modern cartridge gun stamped black powder only?

[forward observer]

For quite some time now I have been stalking a model 1886 Winchester to complete my lever gun bucket list. Just over the weekend I found a NIB
short rifle (24 inch) made by Japchester (Miroku) and it should arrive at my FFL today. It's in the standard 45-70 caliber that I thought all of these models came in for the recent production. I realize that originals came in a myriad of calibers.

However, while searching, I came across a Winchester NIB full rifle (26inch) also by Miroku chambered for 45-90. It was a limited edition, which from my experience so far usually means a run of 500 pieces.

I wasn't interested in the caliber, but while looking at the listing pictures, I spotted this stamped on the barrel: cal. .45-90 Black Powder Only.

That's the first time I have ever seen such a marking on a modern made cartridge gun stating "black powder only"

Of course none of the 45-70 versions have this warning, and if not mistaken I know that one can shoot the shorter round in such a gun, so I'm assuming this only speaks to the longer cartridge.

I know that some of the cowboy action ammo makers have produced 45-90 cartridges for the market, but all I have seen listed were in smokeless.
However they are not hot loads, so I can't see why they could not be used.

Is this just another lawyer thing with Winchester/Miroku/FN Herstal just trying to cover their A**?

Just curious if anyone knows the answer

Cheers

 

[.455_Hunter]

Giving the case size of the .45/90, I am sure somebody could make some absolutely ridiculous loads that FAR exceed the design limits of the modern 1886 action. I am sure that loads equivalent to acceptable .45/70 standards (Level II?) would be no problem.

 

[Jim Watson]

It is a liability thing, as usual.

.45-90 is not listed by SAAMI so there is no standardization of loads or pressures.
The only way they can be SURE it is not overloaded is to limit it to black.

The gun is the same and will hold a .45-90 loaded to 28000 CUP just as well as a .45-70 loaded to 28000 CUP. Or a bit more, as for .45-70 "Level 2."

Lyman 49 has smokeless data for .45-90 and other period cartridges.

 

[Don McDowell]

Like Jim said, there are no SAAMI standards for the 45-90 as it was a blackpowder cartridge that had died long before SAAMI specs were established. So the safest thing for a manufacturer to do is label the gun for Blackpowder only. Remember the case on a 45-90 is 2.4 inches long, exactly the same as a 458 win mag.

 

[forward observer]

Thanks for the replies. That confirms what I suspected.

I guess it's still not as bad as that pointless and intelligence insulting tang safety they put on all the new production Winchesters.

Personally, I think that if firearms genius John Browning thought the 86,92,94, and 95 needed a tang safety he would have included it in the first place.

Of course then he lived in a time when people were responsible for their own actions.

Cheers

P.S. The gun mentioned is still available if anybody is interested.
Last time I checked nobody was bidding on it and it had started in the $1250 range.

I've seriously depleted my bankroll on three Winchesters in the last two weeks (2 new & 1 antique) so I couldn't afford it if I wanted it.