I recently purchased a Stevens 44 in 32-20.  Very nice condition. Sn. 209XX.

I'm gearing up to make some loads for it and was going to follow recipes from the 4th edition of Lyman's Cast Bullet Handbook.

The Handbook, however, has a caution about using the listed loads in older firearms designed for BP. 

I don't know how to "age" the rifle or determine if it was intended for BP.
Could it have been made in the "smokeless" era?

If it was a BP rifle, are there suitable smokeless loads?

Any help is appreciated.

Mike.

Load the 115 grain bullet for about 1350 fps, using magnum pistol powders, 4227, AA#9, 4100, Blue Dot, 2400.  These will keep you under ~1200 lbf. of breech thrust, and the link will hold up for a reasonable period of time.  

If you must use Bullseye, Red Dot, Unique, etc. load for subsonic velocity.  The fast powders generate much higher peak pressures for a given MV than slower ones.  

Stevens did put out a few Model 417s in the late '30s chambered for the Hornet. They also sold quit a few in .32-40 before 1903.  OK for a while, but they "shot loose" in a hurry. This is the failure mode the old 44 is prone to: the link takes such a battering due to the geometry that the holes loosen up, and when that happens the headspace gets excessive.  

Ordinary wear will do this too, which is why we find so many plain .22s with loose linkages.  If your lever does not "snap" over center when you close the action, replace the link and pins, or ream the link, breecblock and lever for oversize pins (I use 5mm), before you go any farther.   

I use the same unique loads as 1Hawkeye.

my 32-20 Stevens Rifle is a   44-1/2 Model 45.it can take higher pressures I'm sure but the light loads do all I need banging steel from 50 to 200 yards.Kens  32-20  is a classic.