I was wondering if anyone out there has done any chronographing of their 45-70 loads out of a 22" barrel? I am considering a custom single-shot build in 45-70 with either a handy 22" barrel or maybe a long 30-32" barrel but was wondering what kind of velocity I could expect out of a 22" barrel. Any thoughts or information would help. Thanks.

I've shot a lot out of both the 22" Handi and 32" BC, warmest load was the 300gr Nosler PP at 2425fps in the 22" with H4198, same load in the 32" BC does just 2450fps.

The 350gr Hornady RN did 2027fps with H322 in the 32" BC barrel, chrono'd 1850fps in the 22" Handi barrel.

Another comparison was IMR4198 and the 350gr Speer FP, 1932fps for the 22" and 2082fps for the 32".

Another is the 525gr Beartooth Piledriver with H4895 at just over 1800fps in the 22" Handi.

You'll probably have to throat your barrel in the Handi or BC to shoot the 350gr Speer or most of the other larger bullets to load to 2.55" COL, they're notoriously short throated, I did mine with a throating reamer rented from 4D.

You'll also want to add some weight and a recoil pad to both, the recoil gets real serious with any load above mid levergun loads.

Tim

I've loaded 47 grs. of IMR-4320 with a 460 gr. Hardcast GC and chronographed it at an average of 1625 fps. No high pressure load but it will make a "believer" out of you. Shot this in a 26" Marlin 1895CB.