what chain saw should i buy?

so im looking into buying a new chainsaw and im partial to stihl chainsaws so im stuck between a ms 441 and a ms 362. the 441 is only $50 more than the 362. i was wondering if anyone has either one of them or recommends buying the bigger saw. the 441 weighs a pound more and has 10 more cc's. and it can go to a 32 inch bar instead of a 25 if needed.

thanks for the opinions.

I have a 361 and a 460. The 460 I bought last year and I think I paid 900. I am no professional tree guy but I was told not to buy the 441 because it was not that much more saw than the 361 or 362. But I understand what you are thinking that for 1 more pound and 50 more dollars why not. I think I would buy the 441 over the 362 for 50 more dollars. The only time the 460 comes in handy is taking stumps off of big trees and cutting logs out of the trunks of big trees. It is faster than the 361. My buddy has a Jonsenred (???) I can't remember the size but it is about equal to a 362 and it will out cut my 361. It has been a great saw for him. Take a look at those and if they are cheaper I would strongly consider them. I didn't buy one because at that time there was no Jonsenred dealer nearby.

instead of either saw stihl has started to remake the 440. Which I have four of and can say they are good saws for every day, or casual use. I would not buy a 441.

Jim Dandy said:

I have a 361 and a 460. The 460 I bought last year and I think I paid 900. I am no professional tree guy but I was told not to buy the 441 because it was not that much more saw than the 361 or 362. But I understand what you are thinking that for 1 more pound and 50 more dollars why not. I think I would buy the 441 over the 362 for 50 more dollars. The only time the 460 comes in handy is taking stumps off of big trees and cutting logs out of the trunks of big trees. It is faster than the 361. My buddy has a Jonsenred (???) I can't remember the size but it is about equal to a 362 and it will out cut my 361. It has been a great saw for him. Take a look at those and if they are cheaper I would strongly consider them. I didn't buy one because at that time there was no Jonsenred dealer nearby.

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Jim Dandy,
how do you like your 361 and 460? i was thinking the 441 for the price would do well and i could use the 32 inch bar for stumping and cutting the bases into logs like you said then use a 20 inch or whatever size bar that comes with it for cutting smaller stuff.

Justin said:

instead of either saw stihl has started to remake the 440. Which I have four of and can say they are good saws for every day, or casual use. I would not buy a 441.

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justin,

why dont you like the 441? and the 440 isnt offered here anymore, only the 441 unless i find a used one. i can get the 441 for 750 with a 25 inch bar or a 362 for 700ish

That is to bad they dont offer it there. I dont like the 441 because it does not feel like it has the power to pull through wood like the 440 does. The saw shop said it is because the saw head mounts different than they used to and it has just as much power. By different mounts I mean they used springs and other is rubber bushing. I also thought it did not wrap up like the 440, and it also seemed to use more fuel. the fuel could be the difference in trees that were being cut though. I did not like the 441 after running it for one day compared to running the 440 all the time. And maybe it is all in my head. The price seems very goo for either saw. Those saws here or I should say the 440 at the saw shop was around 900. I am guessing that it is not offered there due to emissions?

Im not sure maybe emissions but it was offered up till maybe 2010? now they have the 441 and a 441cm which has a carb that doesnt have adjustments. it automatically adjusts to temp, dust, clogged filters, fuel quality ect. but that seems too complicated. plus its more money

actually the 440 is offered starting at $920 just no one stocks them. it has less hp than the 441 but the same power so it must have more torque than the 441 i wouldnt spend the extra almost $200 on it though.

For what its worth I've got a stihl, 361,460,660 and have had in the past poulan, homelights, lombards and some other assorted junk saws. Before you consider any saw from anyone, find out if you've got service in your area thats any good, thats why I went stihls years back, service and parts. I run anywhere from 16, 20, 24,25. and 36 inch bars on mine and switch from 3/8's to 404 all the time between saws. I'd personally never run anything bigger than a 20 inch on my 361 or 25 inch on my 460 but thats just me. If I had to buy only one it would be a 460, its the best all around saw I have for power and weight, for liimbing the 361 is fine, for anything bigger we all take the 460 and I usually get the 660. I'm not sure what your going to do with them but I'd go for any "pro" saw stihl makes over the regualr saws. As for amount of usage I put on my saws, I run between 100-200 feet of chain per year and my 361 and 660 are about 7 years old now the 460 is two years old, so I don't know how that stacks up for usage compared to anyone else or not, low, high or medium. I've had to replace on muffler on the 361 and several bars, usually from getting bent or twisted, operator inflicted, but thats life. An oiler or two on the 660 and otherwise nothing but tune ups and chain and gas/oil. Pretty happy compared to anything else I've owned over the years.

The 460 is a balanced saw with a 25 inch bar on it and has some guts and power to cut fast, even bigger stuff, the 361 is pretty small for much of anything big, my dealer handed my a saw either a 440 or 441 to try out and make a few cuts in a log he has out back and I handed it back to him, I didn't like it at all, too heavy for very little extra power and not as balanced of saw, maybe but thats a long time ago now, I did demo a 460 from him for two weeks also a dolmar saw the same size, but decided on the 460 for interchangabiltiy of bars and drivers. That size of saw is ideal if I needed only one saw, my whole family commented on that when we were trying it out, actually if we have bought that first I don't think we'd have a 361 at all, just a 460 and 660 saws, but I like power, over lighter weight, I want to hold the throttle and see things cut fast and not bog down, but again thats me.

STIHL simple

I have too many chain saws... Stihl 460 (2), 440, 260, 250, 201t, 200t (3), 180 & An echo cs330t. The best are the 460, then the 440, the smaller ones have issues more often with the new extra crappy fuel, I toss mine weekly, put it right into my chipper - 300 straight 6. Now if your not into cuttin logs, commercial tree care, or mass firewood, then a 362 would probably do. For me the run amuck saws are the 250 & 260. For whats its worth, the echo didnt cost as much as the stihl's, but it isnt the saw the stihls are either... would do that one again.

Eric, I like both of the saws but if I had to have only 1 saw it would be the 460. I think Randy88 sums it pretty well. I like him prefer more power over less weight.

I have a 441 lots of power but hardon gas compared to a 2165

I have 5 stihl saws mostly for firewood and lot clearing I've owned many others but the stihls keep going
My 036 is about 15 years old and is used the most
The 066 is just as old but only for the big stuff

Not an expert by any means, and not cutting on a regular basis, but I've recently purchased a Husqvarna 555 Rancher. Twenty inch bar, self-oiling chain, starts easily, runs and cuts reliably. Far better than some of the other cheapy/throwaway saws from the Big Box stores. Just my .02.....

Stihl all the way and 460 is the best all a arounder