jj3500

In the market for a new saw. I was just about to buy this MS 361 when I saw this MS 441 for a GREAT deal. I'm kinda in limbo now. Anyone out there with suggestions. I realize its bigger and stuff but...any opinions.

Primary use is for private property use. I have big logs to work for heating.

Fronty Owner

I had a thread a while back on chain saws.
It was primarily about the Husky saw (I got a 142)

red_rattler

The 361 is agood saw, The 441 had problems at the beggining. Don't know if they have got them right. The 361 will do anything you need it to. For more infomation on both saws visit www.arboristsite.com. I have a ms 460, 036 pro, ms 250 and other saws. i cut a lot of wood and have never found anything the 460 can't handle with the right length of bar.

snoyes

Bought the farm boss with a 20 inch bar and have been happy with it, but it is heavy. Weekend warrior when it comes to cutting wood, and even less now I have moved from Alaska. Had a neighbor with the pro, and while the farm boss had about the same power, the pro was about 1/2 the weight. After trying the husky, Poulan, and Stihl, no competition the Stihl was awesome. Enjoy!

blackdiesel

i've had a 361 for a while now. i traded two used 660's in on it and got it free n clear. I cut ~200 cord per year (not all with this saw, i have a processor) but i use the 361 to fall trees, cut tops, and anything too crooked or small to put on the processor. Great all around saw, good power to weight ratio. I havnt ran a 440, so i cant really comment on which i like better obviously. the 361 would be a beast for the occasional use home owner. And the 440 would be a bit much i would think. JMO

Redleg

If you're cutting a lot to keep your house heated, you'll be happier with the bigger saw. It won't bog down as much, so you can keep a rythm going for efficiency. I don't know if Stihl switches chain size between those two models, but the larger chain will get through a few more logs than a smaller one before needing to be sharpened. The larger teeth won't heat up as readily, and are heavier gauge keeping the edge longer.

chaikwa

He won't hafta worry 'bout the teeth gettin' dull or heated up if he's usin' a Stihl... they don't run fast enough or stay runnin' long enough to dull or heat anything up!



<Let the attack begin!>

chaikwa.

Redleg

I thought about attaching the link that gives the appropriate meteorlogical conditions to keep it running......

J.K.

red_rattler

And that's why you are still the janitor.

Totallyrad

I've got an 029 and a 044, love them both. They may sit for 2 or 3 months or more but when I grab one I know it will start. I can't say that for others I have owned.

rex_ryan

stihl is the best out there. if your not experienced with a powerful chainsaw, i would get the smaller one

brett

chaikwa

When I'm cuttin' with my Husky, the others are stihl tryin' to start theirs!

Yes, this is true. When you don't use them, they tend to stay new.

chaikwa.

Need95-00CTD

LOL... I'm with chaikwa. I'll stick with my Husky, our Stihls are alright, but they're heavy, and they don't last any longer than my Husky's. Even our local tree crews have switched to Husky's.

red_rattler

Husky's are great saws too. It's kinda like ford and chevy and dodge. Everyone is different and prefer something that fits them, and stihl does not fit everybody. I have run both of them and would not complain about either one.

chaikwa

The only real problem I have with Stihl is that they seem to be playing games with their warranties for some reason. I contemplated a Stihl before I bought my 3126 Husky for my sawmill. They told me that there would be no warranty if the saw was used for milling. We got to talking about that and I learned that they also void the warranties if a saw is brought into this country from Canada or visa-versa. It just made me uncomfortable because neither excuse made any sense and they couldn't offer an explanation. Sorta like "You can't run this saw on the third Tuesday in the middle of the week during a thunderstorm under a full moon or the warranty is void" kinda thing.

Husky on the other hand knew what I was doing with their saw and still honored their warranty. I even had to use it when the cylinder became scored. They gave me no problems and replaced the whole saw for me and I've had no trouble with the second one.

chaikwa.