Best bet it too look up the SAAMI pressure specs for some of these originally bp rounds, and that's about where they most likely determined the blackpowder pressures are.
The Lyman 50th edition handbook has blackpowder and pyrodex data for the 32-40 with the 160 gr cast bullet, running around 16K cup. One could surmise that any smokeless load that has pressure data in the 16-18 K range would be safe in a well maintained stevens.
Interesting that the 47th edition has blackpowder pressure data for the 45-70, but it's clear at the end of the Ruger #1 only loads.

Meant to post this earlier, but got sidetracked

Brian Austin, posts on many forums as Savvy Jack, has done a lot of work using the Pressure Trace system. All with 44-40, well worth the time to search “Chasing the 44-40” And some of his discussion on various forums, his own website linked below.

His posts in the Winchester collector forum are worth looking up.

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The forums own GT has also worked with the Pressure Trace system, and has posted some results here in the past.

uscra112 wrote on May 18^th, 2023 at 4:39am:



I believe he worked with the late John Kort. John did a lot of deep research on the .44WCF cartridge and ballistics.  His testing and ballistic data got me started using Reloader 7 in pistol size rifle cartridges.   His testing showed that a full case of Reloader 7 in a .44 WCF was just about equal in velocity and pressure to an 1880s vintage .44 WCF cartridge.  

A lot of good info on Savvy Jack's web site:
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Duck_Rider wrote on May 18^th, 2023 at 8:04am:

I’m interested to know how/where you attached the sensor to the barrel.

I have considered buying the Pressure Trace, but my interest is smaller cartridges. It seems according the the instructions I have read you want the sensor over the case. This would put the sensor on the action instead of the barrel. 

The other issue seems to be “Ammo of known Pressure” to use for calibration.

Any, help, advice insights appreciated.

Sadly your previous posts and information is hard to find since the software change. I remembered seeing them, couldn’t remember your name. 

Thanks for the above information

Quote:


Looked into the Pressure Trace myself, but also have doubts since the largest cartridge I'd use it for would be the .28-30-120, and the rifles I would want to test have octagon barrels.   

Would like to know how Duck Rider did his calibration, as well as all the other details.

I basically use dedicated pressure bbls. I have 3 98 mauser actions 1 for 30/06 head size, 1 for belted magnum (300 H&H), 1 for large rimmed cases (348,45/70, etc). I have a cut down 94 stevens shotgun action that I use for smaller rifles & pistols.It looks crude but has worked well for many thousands of rounds. I locate were I will install gauge & carefully mike the bbl od at this point. Then I make a chamber cast & mike the case at the same point. Then section a case at the same point & mike the wall thickness. This gives all the parameters for the initial starting point. Finding a known pressure load for a common cartridge is not a problem as there are many pressure tested loads that can be found in loading manuals. This is where the fun begins, trying to work out the different variables. I do not use the increase or decrease of pressure in the program as this is a static result. I have worked out dynamic way which is fairly complicated. But has proven to work over a wide rage of pressures. I hope this is of some help? Harry

Does a pattern emerge?  That BP in pistol and small rifle cases generates less pressure than big rifle cases?  Assuming 100% load density in all examples, how can this be?