While I don't have a good supply of early Winchester paper, I do have access to plenty of Union Metallic Cartridge Co. paper. In the UMC 1900 catalog, the heaviest 10-gauge load they offered in their low brass NITRO CLUB shell (their equal to the Winchester REPEATER) was 3 1/2 drams of bulk smokeless powder or the equivalent in dense smokeless powder pushing 1 1/4 ounce of shot. 1901 to 1909 the same. By the 1905 UMC catalog the max load offered in their high brass ARROW shell was 4 drams of bulk smokeless powder pushing 1 1/4 ounce of shot, and by 1906 it was up to 4 1/4 drams of bulk smokeless powder.
The 4 1/4 drams of bulk smokeless powder, or the equivalent in dense smokeless powder, pushing 1 1/4 ounce of shot was the heaviest 10-gauge loads our North American ammunition companies offered until the progressive burning powder, high velocity, loads with 1 5/8 ounce of shot came out circa 1925-6.
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