Raimey;
An "Old" Lyman handbook I have lists for the .25/35 using a 117gr bullet a max load of 3031 powder as 26.5grs with a suggested starting load of 21grs. I am in total agreement on your assesment of using 35grs smokeless in it. I suspect here the 35 was just thought to be a catchy phrase. This does bring up a very good point though, which I would appreciate if you would consider & give your thoughts on. Take the 4 cases of .25/35, .30/30, .32/40 & .38/55. The .30/30 case has more internal volume (powder capacity) than any of these except the .38/55. Now "IF" the .30/30 was intended as a "New" black powder cartridge "Why" would it have been a .30/30. It is rather obvious to me at least the second 30 has no reference to BP. Perhaps win did indeed intend it as a dual purpose round, available as a factory smokeless & reloadable with black. When this didn't work they shortly brought out the .32WS for this purpose. Dave Scovill of Handloader Magazine listed some old Winchester literature of the period stating this was indeed the reason for the .32WS. All the above mentioned loads of black for the .30/30 are short range loads & not full power. Winchester did not bring out the cartridge with this as it's primary purpose, they already had both the .32/20 & .32/40, the .30/30 was for a new niche A Smokeless Powder Cartridge.
