Stihl 044/046 vs 066

[mbanks6620]

hey guys! looking to purchase a new saw and ive narrowed it down to down to either a 044/046 or a 066. wanted to get some opinions. planning on using it for some medium to large firewood bucking and felling with likely starting with a 28in bar (maybe upgrading to a 32in later). weights not a big factor for me, but im pretty mobile and plan on hiking around with it, too. any thoughts on preference and aftermarket mods would be appriciated!

edit: i currently only have (as far as work saws go) a straight shotted 026 pro. its a beast of a saw for its size, but obviously i need something bigger to compliment it!

 

[singinwoodwackr]

hey guys! looking to purchase a new saw and ive narrowed it down to down to either a 044/046 or a 066. wanted to get some opinions. planning on using it for some medium to large firewood bucking and felling with likely starting with a 28in bar (maybe upgrading to a 32in later). weights not a big factor for me, but im pretty mobile and plan on hiking around with it, too. any thoughts on preference and aftermarket mods would be appriciated!

edit: i currently only have (as far as work saws go) a straight shotted 026 pro. its a beast of a saw for its size, but obviously i need something bigger to compliment it!

066, not even close
My main saw for decades till I got a ported 661, 2 main saws for many years…066, 346xp, ported
66 wore a 24” most of the time. Pulled a 42, 404 with ease. Get the hi-output (AU model) oiler, however, or you’ll burn up tips.

 

[Maintenance supervisor]

I have all 3 saws , in your case a good 046/ms460 would be my choice. I have an ms460 with a 32" 3/8ths that's a joy for felling , and an old 046 that runs a 28" with .404 .
I go for the 066 for the bigger stuff than 32" DBH .

 

[ballisticdoughnut]

I have all 3 saws , in your case a good 046/ms460 would be my choice. I have an ms460 with a 32" 3/8ths that's a joy for felling , and an old 046 that runs a 28" with .404 .
I go for the 066 for the bigger stuff than 32" DBH .

I would have to agree. Don’t get me wrong 066/660 is a fantastic saw but for me that would be a dedicated 32/36” bar saw. 046/460 is a good compromise and will run anything from 20” to 36” bar in a pinch (softwood) I’d say 28” full skip is the sweet spot. I run a 7900 with 28” bar 33RS in hard and soft wood no problem, 046/460 is close enough in displacement.

 

[Bob Hedgecutter]

Yeah, you could get an old beat up 046 and do the job, or a slightly newer MS460- or you could just go buy a new 500i and cover all your bases.

 

[singinwoodwackr]

no 046 will keep up with a 066, 8t sprocket, full comp on a 24" bar
He said weight wasn't an issue...

 

[Gord404]

no one has mentioned the first gen 461 magnum-built like any of the old school saws- new ones are not too my liking with their strato setup

 

[singinwoodwackr]

no one has mentioned the first gen 461 magnum-built like any of the old school saws- new ones are not too my liking with their strato setup

stihl no comparison with the early 066 RE at 7.8hp, stock...muffler modded, even higher. ported...way higher...

 

[bwalker]

no one has mentioned the first gen 461 magnum-built like any of the old school saws- new ones are not too my liking with their strato setup

The new ones are much better imo.

 

[ZeroJunk]

Not sure I have ever seen any goof ball check in here that didn't say weight was not an issue like Thor or something. A little funny really.

 

[Mad Professor]

In most cases a 066 will be more saw than you need.

 

[singinwoodwackr]

In most cases a 066 will be more saw than you need.

what does need have to do with anything around here?

 

[NSEric]

I have a 066 clone(bought on sale cheap) and wish I'd have spent a little more and bought the 046 or 372 clone.
I only use the 066 for bucking up log piles, im not carrying it around felling trees, it gets heavy fast.

 

[singinwoodwackr]

I have a 066 clone(bought on sale cheap) and wish I'd have spent a little more and bought the 046 or 372 clone.
I only use the 066 for bucking up log piles, im not carrying it around felling trees, it gets heavy fast.

066/660 Clones are good for 6hp, maybe…

 

[jltrent]

Get a late model 066 or a MS660 if weight is not an issue. The early 066 the crankshaft is not as heavy on the flywheel side. Find the best all OEM one you can.

 

[NSEric]

066/660 Clones are good for 6hp, maybe…

That's why I ported it, it's plenty fast now lol.

 

[Wyoming_Outback]

We have 2 044's, and I have a 661. If you want a bigger bar than like a 25"-28" on an 044 or 046, I'd say the 066/660/661. I don't think that the 044/046 would like a big big bar unless you're at sea level. The 661 does get heavy, but isn't too bad depending on the application. I've run it all day before out in the woods, and isn't killer.

 

[PJwoodcutter]

I would say the 500i is the saw you are looking for. The 660 is for larger 28" logs and up. Dont get me wrong its a great saw but in smaller stuff it wont cut any faster than the 044/46 and be quite a bit heavier. Where as the 500i is the best of both worlds. Light and lots of power. At the end of the day there really isnt a wrong choice here. No matter which you choose it will be a compromise one way or another.

 

[earlthegoat2]

I also have all thee saws and would not even consider the 066 for what you describe.

I’ve done a lot of walking around with my ported 44.

 

[Patrick62]

my 2 cents worth:
I have a 044, I don't run it much now, but arguably one of the best power to weight ever made by Stihl.
It will pull a 24" at my elevation but a little short on power.
I have run the 046/460 stuff for years, pulls the 24" no problem, however my go to blocking saw is a 064.
which is just a slightly smaller, narrower and slightly lighter version of a 066. I run a 28 on it all the time.
I do have a 066, or 660 in there, it has a little more torque than the 064. I don't use it much, but when I gotta pull a bigger bar...
I will go get it out. Probably should run it this year, just to keep it exercised...

I would go with a 461, I have no experience with the 462.

Correct assessment on the 500i, I have played with one or two... Nice. Powerful. Not terribly heavy. Expen$ive tho.