Need advice for cutting off large limb

[pdqdl]

be warned if you move "out" and make the top cut it is possible that the falling piece will grab your chain and take the saw with... general rule is directly over or slightly "in" so when the limb falls it has zero chance to grab the saw...

I'd be willing to bet that almost every pro in the business has had a chainsaw snatched from them by not learning this rule soon enough or not following it carefully. I know I have.

 

[clarksvilleal]

OK, so it looks like the consensus is the top cut is a little inboard. In any case, I feel fortunate to have not had an incident with such a big limb. I was, however, prepared to just let the saw go if it did get caught. I remember telling that to my son who was watching and taking pictures about that possibility, emphasizing that the chainsaw could easily be replaced, and it wasn't worth risking injury to try to stop it if it did happen.

 

[Leotyn]

it sounds like a Darwin Award winner in the making!