I need a larger chainsaw

[lone wolf]

I need a larger saw, maybe it’s just a want.
I have a Stihl MS 261 CM and a MS 400 CM and I am looking for something a little bigger. I am disappointed in the 400.
Does it cut? Yes and it runs great but it's not head over heels more powerful than the 261.

A little background,
Firewood is poor quality in North Texas and the price is outrageous.
I cut 6 cords each year for me and immediate family.
My cousin and I like to take one or two weekends and cut all our wood and haul it a family members house where he spits all the wood for us. Basically we want to done quickly and efficiently because it costs money to take off from work.

I want something that will run a 24" bar. Main use is for firewood (all hardwood) a few weekends a year, and then a few days of use for storm clean up per year.
Tree size around here that I cut is usually 24"-40" and it's mainly Oak and Pecan. I have only had to cut two trees over 40" due to a storm so that's the only exception.

I want to upgrade to a saw that will cut faster and more efficient, so I was looking at the MS 462 CM and the MS 500i. I want something that will run a 24" chain without struggling.

From what I gathered from my research is;
The 462 costs less, has more vibration, has better air filter, and uses less fuel than the 500i.
The 500i is more powerful, has an air filter that easily clogs, drinks fuel, and everyone, including people that haven't used either saw just scream buy the 500i.

The cost between the two isn't a concern to me, neither does the amount of fuel it uses.
I would prefer the less weight of the 462 and less vibration but I am concerned that it won't be much more powerful than my 400. Then, I will say I wished I would have went with the 500i.
Has any upgrade been done or design changes to the 500i to fix the air filter problems?
Is the 500i proven yet?

How is the 462 going to compare to the 400? More powerful? how much more power? 5cc's doesn't seem like much difference.
Go with the 500i, or will a 24" bar matter on those big saws?
Which one overall between the 462 and 500 is the nicer saw and easier to use?
Saws will remain stock, with no mods.
I do like the m-tronics.
We only have a Stihl dealer around so that is what I will be sticking with.

Any input with an explanation or reason of what chainsaw would be best for me, would be helpful and appreciated.
Thanks,
Ryan

500I,you asked, they cost a lot but run great.

 

[Hermio]

Ther idea that the 500i uses more fuel is a bit of a myth, in my opinion. My previous saw was an MS441C. It ran 45 minutes on a tank when cutting pretty hard. My 500i only runs 35 minutes on a tank. But it cuts more wood in 35 minutes than my 441C did in 45 minutes. So, it actually uses less fuel per cord of wood cut.

 

[muddy42]

I am no sharpening expert. But when I use the Pferd 2 in 1 sharpener, it cuts faster than a new chain. As for a bigger saw, I like the Stihl MS500i. It will cut through 18" red oak in 10 seconds.

Great. Personally I can't get any 2 in 1 to work for me. They either chatter, run too high or low or stop you from seeing whats going on.

The 500i is amazing, but too expensive for my level of use. Plenty of older saws will pull the same length bar for a bit more weight (and potentially durability?) - 460, 660, 880 etc.

 

[Hermio]

Great. Personally I can't get any 2 in 1 to work for me. They either chatter, run too high or low or stop you from seeing whats going on.

The 500i is amazing, but too expensive for my level of use. Plenty of older saws will pull the same length bar for a bit more weight (and potentially durability?) - 460, 660, 880 etc.

The 2 in one probably takes the rakers down a bit more than stock. I have noticed it is a bit grabby on smaller limbs (4" and smaller).

 

[ShezTreeNThar?]

I need a larger saw, maybe it’s just a want.
I have a Stihl MS 261 CM and a MS 400 CM and I am looking for something a little bigger. I am disappointed in the 400.
Does it cut? Yes and it runs great but it's not head over heels more powerful than the 261.

A little background,
Firewood is poor quality in North Texas and the price is outrageous.
I cut 6 cords each year for me and immediate family.
My cousin and I like to take one or two weekends and cut all our wood and haul it a family members house where he spits all the wood for us. Basically we want to done quickly and efficiently because it costs money to take off from work.

I want something that will run a 24" bar. Main use is for firewood (all hardwood) a few weekends a year, and then a few days of use for storm clean up per year.
Tree size around here that I cut is usually 24"-40" and it's mainly Oak and Pecan. I have only had to cut two trees over 40" due to a storm so that's the only exception.

I want to upgrade to a saw that will cut faster and more efficient, so I was looking at the MS 462 CM and the MS 500i. I want something that will run a 24" chain without struggling.

From what I gathered from my research is;
The 462 costs less, has more vibration, has better air filter, and uses less fuel than the 500i.
The 500i is more powerful, has an air filter that easily clogs, drinks fuel, and everyone, including people that haven't used either saw just scream buy the 500i.

The cost between the two isn't a concern to me, neither does the amount of fuel it uses.
I would prefer the less weight of the 462 and less vibration but I am concerned that it won't be much more powerful than my 400. Then, I will say I wished I would have went with the 500i.
Has any upgrade been done or design changes to the 500i to fix the air filter problems?
Is the 500i proven yet?

How is the 462 going to compare to the 400? More powerful? how much more power? 5cc's doesn't seem like much difference.
Go with the 500i, or will a 24" bar matter on those big saws?
Which one overall between the 462 and 500 is the nicer saw and easier to use?
Saws will remain stock, with no mods.
I do like the m-tronics.
We only have a Stihl dealer around so that is what I will be sticking with.

Any input with an explanation or reason of what chainsaw would be best for me, would be helpful and appreciated.
Thanks,
Ryan

Personally I like the 362c and 461, good hefty saws and plenty powerful for cutting firewood a few months out of the year, as I’m assuming you don’t do this everyday. I have used my own 362c and 461 occasionally at work on a few jobs every day for 12-14 hrs a day until the job was done which was a week on one and a week and a half on the other. However , they are not known for being the lightest of the stihl family.
But, they both performed wonderfully, although the guys on my crew were like aren’t you tired carrying that heavy saw all day, I joked with them, if they’d spend more time carrying their saws and less time carrying their beer, they wouldn’t be complaining about the saws being too heavy. Lol, but I ran a 24” bar on my 362, and it performed beautifully.