I guess that I need to try to get over my aversion to loading cartridges with black powder.
It just seems so much simpler not to have to deal with BP, particularly the cleanup. BP mess and cleanup are why I have thus far not fired my 45-60.
I know that there are several/many owners of original Winchester 1973's and 1876's that Do load with smokeless, and I am sure that they reload carefully so as to not overstress their rifles. I have in my possession a 1973 issue of 'The Rifle' magazine wherein an article gives the details on loading the 45-60 cartridge with various recipes of smokeless powder. That article mentions EARLY 1876 Winchesters sometimes developing cracks where the barrel joins the receiver and to watch for those if you have an early model 1876. Later serial number 1876s are not said to have the issue with weak receivers. If I were a gun writer in todays' litigous society (as opposed to 1973), I would probably soft-pedal smokeless cartridges for the old Winchesters too, but that's not necessarily the answer to the real issue --- which is what can be done to safely load these old Winchesters with smokeless.
Since my rifle seems to have been made with the stronger metal (steel) in the receiver, it may not necessarily be 'foolish' to load with the 'right' conservative smokeless load behind a cast 300 grain bullet. Many people, of course, think that reloading your own ammo in general is foolish by its very nature because of the potential for 'double loading,' using the wrong powder, using a filler, yada, yada, yada; and in a relative sense, they are probably correct. That being said, I see enough evidence out there that original Winchester toggle-link lever-action rifles are being loved and enjoyed with smokeless powder reloads. What good is it to have an old Winchester and not be able to shoot and enjoy it (I'm not referring to top-condition collectibles here)?