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As early as 1891, Union Metallic Cartridge Co. was offering shot gun shells loaded with smokeless powders. Winchester provided smokeless powder shotgun shells to "selected shooters" in 1893 and to the general public in 1894. From the first Grand American Handicap at live birds in 1893 on through the last GAH at live birds in 1902, virtually all the contestants were using smokeless powder shells.

From the introduction of the Remington Hammerless Doubles in the October 1894 Remington Arms Co. catalog, they were said to be "adapted to all nitro powders." By the November 1895 Remington Arms Co. catalog they state "Guaranteed for Nitro Powders."

Surviving Remington Arms Co. hang-tags I've seen show that in 1900 a 12-gauge K-Grade gun, 303821, was targeted with 3 1/2 drachms of FG black powder pushing 1 1/4 ounce of #8 shot. By 1902, a 12-gauge No. 1 Hammer Gun was targeted with a UMC 2 5/8 inch "SMOKELESS" shell loaded with 3 drams of DuPont Bulk Smokeless Powder pushing 1 1/4 ounce of #8 chilled shot. All the later hang-tags I've seen show the guns targeted with a UMC NITRO CLUB shell loaded with either three drams of bulk smokeless powder or 24 grains of dense smokeless powder, such as Infallible or Ballistite, pushing that 1 1/4 ounce of #8 chilled shot. One is over typed 7 1/2 and has a 7. stamped on the barrel lug next to the pellet counts.