Opinions

[Bugsinrugs]

Time for a new chainsaw. I’m down to either a Stihl ms311 or a Husqvarna 460 rancher. Husky is $50 cheaper but seems to be a better performer than the Stihl. This will be the last saw I’ll buy. Do have to add that my old saw is a Husqvarna 45 and is 30 years old. I have some crazy big oak parts to cut up that have been left by a tree faller.

[KFC911]

You won't go wrong picking either one .

I have an arsenal of Stihls, but Huskys are great too .... except none of the pro dealers around here sell them.

Needless to say .... get a full chisel chain.... if ya go with the Stihl, that's the yellow coded one, not the green coded one "they" (their lawyers ) recommend.

[Bugsinrugs]

Thanks…. I’ll try to post pics of the oak I’m dealing with. It’s not my tree. A friend asked if I wanted it because no one else can deal with it. All the smaller wood has been taken.

[KFC911]

What size bar are you looking at? One of the local dealers always has a beastly Stihl with a 5' bar on display .... a bit outta my league .

Says he sells 2-3 each year ... but not to me !

[Bugsinrugs]

Stihl has a 20 inch bar and the Husky's bar is 24.

[911boost]

I have a Husky Rancher and it has been a good saw.

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by Bugsinrugs

Stihl has a 20 inch bar and the Husky's bar is 24.

My largest Stihl has a 20" bar (could go a bit longer) ... and has dealt with plenty of 3-4' oaks .... any bigger and I'll call Bugs !

You won't go wrong with either one!

[LWJ]

A side opinion- sorry! I have a husky 353 (I think). It has a narrower chain than the typical ranch saw. It takes much less power to remove less wood. So a smaller power head works great. It is a joy to use. It may need sharpening more often as the teeth are smaller, not certain.

I do know that all the family prefers my saw to ones you refer to when we have cutting days at the farm.

[KFC911]

I have a pro Stihl top handle with a 14" bar that is a beast for it's size that I now use the most. But there is no replacement for displacement if yer into the big stuff. Even if the chains are identical, a longer bar/chain has significantly more teeth that a short one .... I hit my chains a couple of times per tooth with a file every tankful too.... if yer makin' sawdust .... t'aint sharp .

[flatbutt]

Originally Posted by KC911

I have a pro Stihl top handle with a 14" bar that is a beast for it's size that I now use the most. But there is no replacement for displacement if yer into the big stuff. Even if the chains are identical, a longer bar/chain has significantly more teeth that a short one .... I hit my chains a couple of times per tooth with a file every tankful too.... if yer makin' sawdust .... t'aint sharp .

Same here but with a full chisel 16". It hasn't been stumped yet.

[Superman]

I prefer Stihls, but you can't go wrong with either one. The main industry in my hometown is logging, and the fallers there use Stihls and Husqvarnas exclusively.

[pete3799]

I own 2 Husky's and a Stihl. Can't go wrong with either.

[john70t]

Originally Posted by Bugsinrugs

This will be the last saw I’ll buy.

No it won't.

[Bugsinrugs]

Anyone watched Bucking Billy Ray Smith on you tube? Love that guy. He goes through lots of saws. Old and new. He likes Husqvarna mostly. Big saws. Big time tree faller.