Based on a PM it spunds like a random barrel would not be expected to fit a 44 or a 44 1/2 action, unless one got lucky.

I don’t have extra 44 barrels, but the extra 44-1/2 barrels I have seem to fit on the actions I have and shoot OK.  Most of my actions are the standard 44-1/2 and 45 type plain trigger sporting versions.  My highest grade is a 47.

Strictly speaking, a mongrel barrel might go a teensy bit of a turn past the index if screwed in tight by hand, and no doubt the crush fit accomplished by an action wrench and barrel vise would run it to maybe a 32nd of a turn, but screwing them home by hand and tightening the set screw on the bottom locks the assembly together well enough.  I’ve never seen one come up short of index, myself.

IIRC, Grant mentioned this same observation in one of his books that the Stevens takedown system doesn’t cause inaccurate shooting.

Never had headspace or other problems with these marriages.  The parts seem to have been made to gauge, and if there’s a gap between breech and block, some more tightening can be gained by choosing a link with a slightly different hole spacing to run the block slightly forward or back.  I’ve never seen an actual visible gap, though.  More common is an off-center primer strike.

All these barrels are chambered for blackpowder calibers of small-to-medium size, as were available when the guns were new.  This easy fit would not be indicated if the barrel is for a high-intensity modern caliber, of course.

And, of course, if one demands the ultimate in modern target accuracy, such practice would have the shooter always second-guessing his misses, with that loose barrel as a possible cause.  I pretty much stick to the old standards for all my antique originals:  under 2-1/2” at 100 yds, acceptable run-of-the-mine; 1-1/4” or so definitely gilt-edge; less than that, a treasure.  Harry Pope might not have liked Stevens work, but I do.

On reline jobs I’ll face the breech for a tight fit by hand, and do what I can to chamber for minimum headspace.  But I’m always delighted to find an extra Stevens barrel in shootable condition in “my” price range, and never have been bothered by the question of “will it fit?”

I am curious, I have a 414 in .22 short that I can try a couple of barrels on from different guns. I will do so tonight after work.

Right now I have a 45-44 1/2 that was originally a .32 Ideal that has a mismatch .32-20 barrel on it. It indexes and headspaces perfectly, another barrel in .25-20 ss does the same on this action. I have another 44 1/2 that was originally a .22 LR that has a .32-40 mismatch barrel and a breech block from a different rifle, indexes fine, headspace is a little bit loose, but I haven’t had any issues with primers backing out while firing.

It sounds like the luck of the draw to me.  A random barrel may or may not fit up to a 44 or a 44 1/2.  My only experience with this is a barrel I purchased from this forum a few months back for a 44 1/2.  The barrel was not a factory barrel from Stevens and it will go into 404 action I have only as far as the end of the threads, where it binds up leaving the shank in front of the threads exposed.  To me, this condition suggets that the thread pitch on the barrel is not an exact match to the receiver.  Is this a correct interpretation or is this something that can be "cleaned up" with a little work?  Thanks much again, I appreciate all the comments you guys posted.

Sounds like there’s some variability in the thread pitch.  Also sounds like a good question for Gail at CPA.

My 414 .22 short.
The .25 rf barrel needs about 1/8 turn to index.
The extra .22 LR barrel I have indexes perfectly, the headspace is about the same with the .22 short barrel, both have the lever droop because the action needs rebuilding with new link pins.

Better buy some lottery tickets before your luck runs out!