"I recall reading somewhere that the 94 was designed and intended for the .30-30 and smokeless powder."
It was. That was the intention, the same with the Winchester 1895.
Winchester was banking on smokeless powder being available for commercial use. And, also, apparently on having the issues with machining nickel steel worked out.
Neither one appears to have worked out very well.
That wouldn't be the first time that a company has advertised something, run into a problem, and had to work around it.
"BTW, your link is circular, pointing back at your post."
Crap.
OK...
Try this one...
http://www.castpics.net/subsite2/Gen...-Smokeless.pdf
Middle of the last paragraph on page 10.