Buy Stihl MS361 or MS441mag 20"bar

[F350ps4x4]

Looking to purchase today Sthil MS361 20" or MS441mag 20". I will be cutting mostly fallen down trees. This is for home use, My neighbor has about 10 boxelder trees and other maple and pine. some are 30" in dia. I will not be using a splitter and will be using the saw to do all the work. The junk wood will be for firepit and good wood for fireplace heating.

I want to make the best purchase once and want it last a life time. I drain fuel when sitting for more than three weeks, I stabilize all new fuel.

Thanks Rich

 

[ShoerFast]

Rich

My .02 cents, go with the 361, fine 20" saw, 441 may be a slight overkill on a 20" , if that is your slected need.

 

[A. Stanton]

Just bought a 361; the thing cuts thru trees like nobody's business. I also have a 440, but save that for the real big stuff. As you get older you will appreciate the nice light weight of the 361: I vote for that!

 

[SawTroll]

Unless that wood is really hard, a 361 will be nicer to handle, considering that you probably will be limbing with the same saw also.........

 

[Ed*L]

If you are going to be using the saw for crosscutting blocks on a regular basis, I would go with the 441.
No substitute for horespower!

Ed

 

[F350ps4x4]

I had been looking at the 24" bar but think that is over kill for what I would be cutting. Thanks for the posts.

I thought that some of the fetures on the 441 were worth the extra 150. The ES super solid bar, Higher torque, better pull handle assy, Heavy duty air filer.

Please correct me if I am wrong. I have only used a 20 yr old craftsman and beat older Stihl 21? both hade junk chains.

I will be cross cutting all logs.

 

[SawTroll]

If you are going to be using the saw for crosscutting blocks on a regular basis, I would go with the 441.
No substitute for horespower!

Ed

That is also true.......:biggrinbounce2:

.....not an easy decision, 20" bar is borderline between 60 and 70 cc saws....

 

[SawTroll]

I had been looking at the 24" bar but think that is over kill for what I would be cutting. Thanks for the posts.

I thought that some of the fetures on the 441 were worth the extra 150. The ES super solid bar, Higher torque, better pull handle assy, Heavy duty air filer.

Please correct me if I am wrong. I have only used a 20 yr old craftsman and beat older Stihl 21? both hade junk chains.

More than two pounds extra weight also, if it matters for the application......:help:

I will surely have some trouble sorting out some of the applications between a 361 with 15 and 18" bars, and a Husky 372 with 16, 20 and 24" ones - but that will be just fun....:hmm3grin2orange: :hmm3grin2orange:

 

[F350ps4x4]

Possibly every once in a while I might be cutting of a limb or two. But most will be downed and cut the remaning 6' to 10' of the trunk close to the ground. I am new to all this. I can see the weight is being aginst me when used over head. But most cutting will be where the tree fell.

 

[ShoerFast]

In primary 6" - 10" cuts, it's a hands down choice for the 361, it would out rev the 441 , and most could maneuver better with the 361.

If I were to have one saw, it would be a 361,,,,, if 2, it would be something bigger, and a smaller (460 and a 026 idea)

 

[F350ps4x4]

Most of the trunks I would be cutting are 20" to 30" in dia.

Weight is of a small concern but durability and cutting are primary.

 

[Ed*L]

I had been looking at the 24" bar but think that is over kill for what I would be cutting. Thanks for the posts.

I thought that some of the fetures on the 441 were worth the extra 150. The ES super solid bar, Higher torque, better pull handle assy, Heavy duty air filer.

Please correct me if I am wrong. I have only used a 20 yr old craftsman and beat older Stihl 21? both hade junk chains.

I will be cross cutting all logs.

I'll stick with the 441 recommendation. I haven't run the 441, although it is in the same class as a 372xp, that saw handles a 20" bar with no problem. It also crosscuts very well in soft and medium woods. So far the 411 has had really good reviews here on Arboristite. I don't think you will ever miss the extra $150.00.

Ed

 

[F350ps4x4]

Ed

Thank you for the posts and help.

I agree for 150 more that nothing over the long hall and the extra weight, I'll just have to work out more and then drink more beer. After cutting of course.



I have local dealer selling the 441 for 740.00 with 20" bar It seems that around here in IL list price one dealer is 25.00 above list.

$740.00 seem like a good price?

 

[kevinj]

Ed

Thank you for the posts and help.

I agree for 150 more that nothing over the long hall and the extra weight, I'll just have to work out more and then drink more beer. After cutting of course.



I have local dealer selling the 441 for 740.00 with 20" bar It seems that around here in IL list price one dealer is 25.00 above list.

$740.00 seem like a good price?

I would go with the MS 361, then use the $150.00 on accessories.
Maybe some ppe. Chaps, helmet with hearing protection, extra chain.

Perhaps maybe even more beer.

Just for the heck of it, ask your dealer if the saw you purchase
is guaranteed against "suckback".
Just to see his reaction .

Oh, and welcome to AS.

 

[F350ps4x4]

So you think the 361 is a better all around machine for weight/ease and cutting smaller logs?

 

[computeruser]

441, no doubt. If this is going to be your only saw, or only serious saw, I would err on the side of more power.

441 (ported) ripping hickory rounds:

For what it's worth, I routinely run 20" bar on my 79cc Dolmar 7900 and even do so with some frequency on my 92cc Stihl 066. Ripping logs into halves or quarters takes a bit of power (especially when not 100% in line with the radius of the log, pulling huge french fries). I usually rip stuff with the 066 or one of my big saws. It just goes a LOT faster with a bigger motor AND a bar that is longer than the log being ripped..

As for bar length, if frequent ripping is in the picture I would aim for a bar 4-8" longer than the rounds you anticipate ripping. This way you can have the bar tip free of the log AND still have a bit of gap between the saw and the log, so the french fries can fall out of the way and not completely pack up the clutch cover. For a 441 I would probably consider doing a 20"/28" combo, or a 18"/24" combo.

Oh, and I should add - welcome to Arboristsite, too!!

 

[SawTroll]

Ed

Thank you for the posts and help.

I agree for 150 more that nothing over the long hall and the extra weight, I'll just have to work out more and then drink more beer. After cutting of course.



I have local dealer selling the 441 for 740.00 with 20" bar It seems that around here in IL list price one dealer is 25.00 above list.

$740.00 seem like a good price?

441, then - but if you can get a 372xp........:greenchainsaw:

 

[1953greg]

Most of the trunks I would be cutting are 20" to 30" in dia.

Weight is of a small concern but durability and cutting are primary.

if/since "most" are >20" you wil get tired of switching and cutting from both sides w/ a 20" bar, assuming you dont know how to buck from one side w/ a bar shorter than the diameter. if u do know then thats different.

personally i dont like a 24" bar on the 440/441. the bar seems to handle the saw rather than the saw handling the bar. if i "need" a 24" bar i definitely want it on a 460.

with that said, the 440/441 has enough power (w/ dual port muff) for the 24" bar. have never ran a 361 so i dont have any data. but at some 2lbs lighter than the 440/441 i can only imagine that it wood b really overloaded w/ a 24" bar.

determine your bar length needs first, then get enough saw to pull it. if the 20" bar wil satisfy your needs then the 361 will do the job, albiet the 441 will do it faster.

clear as mud???

 

[saxman]

I have both the 361 and 441, a 20" bar on the 361 and 24" on the 441. If I could only have one saw it would be the 361 because of the weight. They are both silky smooth running saws with good power. After a long day and fatigue sets in the 361 will feel better. Just my opinion, but I LOVE my 441 also, that is why I have both.

 

[talon1189]

I have both the 361 and 441, a 20" bar on the 361 and 24" on the 441. If I could only have one saw it would be the 361 because of the weight. They are both silky smooth running saws with good power. After a long day and fatigue sets in the 361 will feel better. Just my opinion, but I LOVE my 441 also, that is why I have both.

I agree........get the 361