Had an "interesting" experience at the range today.   Was working up a .25-20 load for a newly rebarreled Stevens Model 44.  Usually I'm all alone, but today a group of onlookers hung about, borrowing stuff, asking advice, cheering my better shots, and all that.  I got distracted, and double-charged a case.  ( A first for me, over a good many years. )

The "interesting" part is that, despite pressure that Quickload calculates to 80,000 psi, the gun did NOT blow up.  Blew the primer, and the case stuck tight,  but otherwise the gun is OK.  BTW  I believe that pressure number - QL also says the velocity should have been 2500 fps, and sure enough, the Chrony read 2565 after the shot.  

This rifle has a machined-from-solid breechblock in it, and I used drill rod for new link pins, so it's not entirely your average Model 44, but other than that, it is a typical Model 44 from about 1910, no other special parts, assembled with some care to proper fits fits and breeching.   I've pulled it apart already to check it over with a magnifier and mikes, and to clean out  the carbon deposits.  After cleaning, it will go back together with the same parts.  

I'm certainly not advocating for running the old 44 past the customary 30,000 psi speed limit on a regular basis, but I now have some confidence that at 30K there is a considerable safety margin, when the action is in good condition.      

And the next guy that blathers about how "the 44 is only good for .22 rimfire" is going to get an earful.

The only lasting evidence:

Reasonable comments, Marlinguy.   I have picked up numerous worn-out examples that had a lot of slop in the breeching.  That, combined with the weaker cast breechblock that Stevens used could well have let go.  I'm sure you know that loose breeching is the bane of Ballards, too.   Even Parker Ackley wrote of the problem of loose breeching with regard to bolt rifles, where especially in soft Mausers causes setback, but in Krags is known to crack bolt heads right off.   

So no argument from me that a sub-par 44 is still a risky proposition.   

I bought this gun at an auction up in Akron, not knowing then that it had this new breechblock in it.  Within the last year I have been in touch with a fella out West who claims to have made them by the dozen, from 8620.  Has none left to sell, and won't make another batch unless somebody orders at least a dozen or two.  I'm wondering if this one is one of his.  I'd order a bunch myself to resell, after this, but the investment would be over $1000, and my pension won't support that kind of outlay.

AA#9 was giving me single-digit variances in my .25-21, so that's what I was loading on the fateful day.  86 grain GC bullet and Rem small pistol primers, 6.5 grains AA#9 was the load I double charged.

If you are getting spreads that large, there's much more than your load that's wrong.