Crunch time is coming 361 or 441

[Bermie]

Ok...

I need a more powerful saw to run a longer bar 20-24", my 290 18" is just not enough anymore for the big trees, it's going on emoo tonight!! (our equivalent of eBay)

I went to my local dealer today, and got him to give me a price for a 361 and a 441magnum. He has knocked off a couple of hundred dollars on each.

Bear in mind, I am in Bermuda where prices are crazy!
361 - $1200 (has a 20" bar, feels nice)
441 - $1300 (has a 25" bar feels heavy and akward)
Even if I bought a saw from the US and imported it I'm not going to get away under $1000 for either of them (shipping, duty)

(The Husky dealer will sell me a 372xp for $1000 but it has been on the shelf a long time in the heat and humidity, muffler is rusting. Besides all my other saws are Stihls, just what I am used to)

Help me out here,

• I want to go up in power but not a lot of weight
• I'll have to carry this thing 'tru de bushes' a lot.
• I weigh 115 soaking wet.
• Can I change the paper 361 filter for a mesh one?
• I am leaning towards the 361, you know, the coin toss is in the air and you kinda know which side you want.. but would I kick myself for not getting the more power saw for only $100 more?
• Where do I go for therapy? Having to choose between the prince and princess just shouldn't have to happen, in a good place I could get both!

PS (out of warranty MS880 $1000 sitting in the back of the shop too!)

 

[Tzed250]

361

 

[Dadatwins]

The 361 will run a 18" - 20" with no problem and is a great saw. It will run a 24" for the ocassional big cut but I think it is a bit to much for the saw for long term buried use. If you are using the 24" just for reach it would probably be OK. The 441 will also run a 18" - 20" bar and cut faster. It will also run the 24" bar buried in wood and could run a 28" bar in a pinch. The 361 is a great all around firewood saw but it depends if you will ever need the extra pull of the 441. They are very close in the short bar 18" -20" with cutting speed, but the longer bars 24" - 28" belong to the 441. If it were my choice I would get the 441, especially if its only an extra $100. To quote 'better to have it and not need it, than need it and not have it' Have fun.

 

[BostonBull]

I would say a 361. The extra weight and power of the 441 doesnt sound as though it is needed.

PM me I MAY have something for you!

 

[Haywire Haywood]

I'm going to say that if you need to run a 24" bar more than 10% of the time, pay the extra $100 and get the 441. If it's the once a month for a couple of hours kind of use, get some skip chain and a 361.

Ian

 

[tree_beard]

if the husky dealer can give you some gaurantees about fixing/replacing any bits of the 372xp that might be dodgy, then i might be inclined to go with that if you really need bar length.

but, as you are a top, uk trained arbo, i know you can be creative with bar length, so go with the lighter weight and (as you said yourself) handier feel of the 361.

if you have been managing with a 290 so far, then you'll be un-stoppable with a 361...

 

[Just Mow]

For what you describe I think the 361 will be a better fit for you.

 

[Peacock]

I can't think of any situation other than limbing where I would rather use a 361. I've got some pretty substantial 361 trigger time and it's a no brainer to me why I bought the 441.

You get used to the weight real quick and it is soooooo much faster.

 

[PA Plumber]

I can't think of any situation other than limbing where I would rather use a 361. I've got some pretty substantial 361 trigger time and it's a no brainer to me why I bought the 441.

You get used to the weight real quick and it is soooooo much faster.

You got that right. I find myself using the 441 more and more. Used it most of the day for felling and limbing. The weight isn't as noticeable as when I first purchased it. The 026 is starting to get lonely.

 

[2000ssm6]

The 026 is starting to get lonely.

Wanna sell it?

 

[PA Plumber]

Wanna sell it?

I really don't. Except it might give me a chance to try a 346........

Nahhhhh.

 

[rbtree]

Bermie, what if someone here bought a saw for ya, and did some creative wording on the shipping documents? When I sent a saw to Ekka, he had no problems...and I got him a muffler modded and lightly ported 440 pwr head for about $720.....

I'd go with a 441.....though a 372 Husky would be lighter, cheaper, and about as peppy....

 

[2000ssm6]

Except it might give me a chance to try a 346........

Nahhhhh.

That crossed my mind too, then I woke up:hmm3grin2orange:

 

[beowulf343]

Funny, i actually picked up both a 361 and a 441 less than a month ago. Had heard so much good about them, i thought i'd try them out to replace a couple husky's. 361-excellent saw, very happy with it, have run up to 20" with no problem but usually stick with 18". However, am a little disappointed with the 441. Was looking for something that would turn a 24" and it does a decent job on softwood. But bury it in something like a sugar maple and might as well forget it. (Of course, i don't run skip chain either.) Have gotten to the point where i just keep a 20" bar on it and use it for stem chunking. 20-24" inch bar with not alot of cutting on the 24", the 441 is good. If you do alot of cutting with a 24", go with a bigger saw.

 

[2000ssm6]

Funny, i actually picked up both a 361 and a 441 less than a month ago. Had heard so much good about them, i thought i'd try them out to replace a couple husky's. 361-excellent saw, very happy with it, have run up to 20" with no problem but usually stick with 18". However, am a little disappointed with the 441. Was looking for something that would turn a 24" and it does a decent job on softwood. But bury it in something like a sugar maple and might as well forget it. (Of course, i don't run skip chain either.) Have gotten to the point where i just keep a 20" bar on it and use it for stem chunking. 20-24" inch bar with not alot of cutting on the 24", the 441 is good. If you do alot of cutting with a 24", go with a bigger saw.

Try skip on the 441, I run 25" skip on my 440 and it does great buried in all types of woods....rakers lowered too..

 

[beowulf343]

Try skip on the 441, I run 25" skip on my 440 and it does great buried in all types of woods....rakers lowered too..

I just said i don't run skip chain-am not going to have one kind of chain just to run a certain saw with a certain length bar-have too many bars and chains floating around as it is. The 441 can't handle my setup so i simply pull out a bigger saw that can.

 

[2000ssm6]

I just said i don't run skip chain-am not going to have one kind of chain just to run a certain saw with a certain length bar-have too many bars and chains floating around as it is. The 441 can't handle my setup so i simply pull out a bigger saw that can.

I read the skip comment, sorry dude shat . What type of chain is on your bigger saw?

 

[Peacock]

Funny, i actually picked up both a 361 and a 441 less than a month ago. Had heard so much good about them, i thought i'd try them out to replace a couple husky's. 361-excellent saw, very happy with it, have run up to 20" with no problem but usually stick with 18". However, am a little disappointed with the 441. Was looking for something that would turn a 24" and it does a decent job on softwood. But bury it in something like a sugar maple and might as well forget it. (Of course, i don't run skip chain either.) Have gotten to the point where i just keep a 20" bar on it and use it for stem chunking. 20-24" inch bar with not alot of cutting on the 24", the 441 is good. If you do alot of cutting with a 24", go with a bigger saw.

Trust me, the 441 has NO problem with BIG hardwoods. I've cut some big hard maple, oak, hickory and this ash with mine. 28" bar in a 59" tree. No problem whatsoever.

 

[West Texas]

I'm partial to the 361; but, if you need a larger saw; I'd go for the 046/460 as it's about the same weight and has more power than the 441. A good muffler modded 361 or woods modified 361 can push close to the performance of a 441. If I ever feel a need for something more powerful than my woods/muffler modified 361's, I'd jump to the 066/660 saw. Weight is a problem for me when I'm lugging a saw; but, once its in the wood, weight is not an issue, performance becomes the issue. Good luck on your choice; hope it works out for you.

 

[2000ssm6]

wtf?

Trust me, the 441 has NO problem with BIG hardwoods. I've cut some big hard maple, oak, hickory and this ash with mine. 28" bar in a 59" tree. No problem whatsoever.

Same thing I was thinking. My 440 can pull a 32" good a 441 should do very well with a 28".

I always go full skip after 20"............I must be the only one:chainsawguy: