stihl ms440

[spike1]

Hello, I have just purchased a ms440 and waiting for it to be delivered. I was wondering what the comparison would be to a husqvarna of simlar size? I have been using husqvarna's for a while, thought I would try the best saw on the market. David

 

[TonyM]

You are going to open a can of worms with the "best saw on the market" comment
The MS440 is a fine machine, but I don't think it is necessarily any better than the Dolmar PS-7300 or Husqvarna 372XP (Which is being replaced by the 575XP). You will find good and bad with all makes, but the 50 and 70cc classes are probably the most competitive, so it's hard to go wrong!

 

[woodshop]

Hello, I have just purchased a ms440 and waiting for it to be delivered. I was wondering what the comparison would be to a husqvarna of simlar size? I have been using husqvarna's for a while, thought I would try the best saw on the market. David

First, welcome to the site... as far as comparing saws in the 50-70cc class, like Tony siad, its like comparing apples to apples. Different flavors, but all good apples if you stay with the Dolmar\Stihl\Husky stuff. In many cases it boils down to how far away are you from a good dealer.

 

[Mange]

Is this officially a Stihl site?

 

[Dadatwins]

Is this officially a Stihl site?

Ha Ha, sure does seem to be getting a lot of traffic about them lately.

I think I will go in the garage and tinker around with an old poulan just so they do not feel left out.

 

[Mange]

 

[Pacific]

The 440 is comparable to the 372XP Husky. In this area the 460 is the most common saw sold here for pro use and falling the old 044s used to be the norm but when the 46s came out they were becoming the better choice.

Personally I would have gone with a MS460 if you plan on doing alot of falling or running a 28" plus bar. I have a 046 Mag I like the saw it has enough power for what I fall and buck I run a 28" bar.

 

[Justin Garrison]

I ran a Husky 266xp today it is a older saw, but it was really nice. Maybe a little heavy for a 65cc,but it rips through some wood with a 20 inch bar. I have 4 Stihls,what can I say? I have 4 Stihl dealer ships within 30 miles and 1 husky dealer about 45 mins away,so stihl it is. Every one around here say Dolmar, what?? To inform every one I got the 031 with 32inch bar running. It bogs but I cut 17 inch oak with the 32incher just fine. It really screams the rrrs! 440s are nice but 460s are more competitive with 372s.

 

[SawTroll]

........................................................
..440s are nice but 460s are more competitive with 372s.

I have seen lots of statements like this, going through the archives of this forum.

Why is it so?
According to both catalog statements and in-dependent test results, the MS440 has a slight power output advantage, and a somewhat bigger torque advantage over the 372xp. The MS460 should have a big advantage! :blob5:

 

[Mange]

Specially the older models of saws were individual. You can have 3 saws identical and one with better "go" in it.

I think there is no easy way to be exact in this. All tests are made in a short period.
I asked a logger here who has his head on straight, how he did to compare brands.
He went to the dealer and asked for a saw with 50-55cc, and the dealer recommended one.
He bought a saw and ran it for a year. All service with dealer that sold his saw. He did this with Husqvarna, Jonsered and Stihl. all run on same fuel (Aspen) and same bar oil.
This is a good way to see the costs of buying and running a saw. The dealers got each a year with a saw of choice, and the costs were very different.
Husqvarna was about 3 times more expensive than the others. Stihl was cheapest.
Keep in mind that this is something that is different from place to place, but a good way to test the dealers nearby.
All brands were not represented at,the time these were the only brands available to him.
If you have the money to spend this will let you know.

 

[Justin Garrison]

Saw Troll not to be a know it all but the 372 does have a little disadvantage power wise but people really like it. What ever cuts the wood the best. If somebody that liked a 372, had to run a stihl they would probably be most comfortable with the 046, over the 044. The world is full of questions. Why is it that a 357xp cuts faster than a 359? The 359 has a bigger power advantage. It just does. I think it has something to do with rpms never mind though.

 

[rahtreelimbs]

One thing that the 372 has over the 440 is the anti-vibe. The spring anti-vibe on the 372 is a lot better than the rubber mounts on the 440.

There is a lot more than just performance in picking a saw!

 

[Justin Garrison]

Amen to that. You need a big enough saw for the job, but just because a hotsaw is fast dosent mean it is better for cutting than a plan stock workhorse. Do the springs wear out? If so are they more expensive than rubber mounts which do wear out?

 

[rahtreelimbs]

Do the springs wear out? If so are they more expensive than rubber mounts which do wear out?

As far as I know the springs will not wear out.


A lot of times it is just personal preference. Both Stihl and Husky are quality saws.


Four years ago you could not get me to buy a Husky, now I own several.


Just how the saw feels in your hands, to some people, makes the difference!

 

[TimberMcPherson]

I love the 044, I dont think you can do better although the other formentioned saws may stand next to it. One of the legend saws stihl has made.

 

[SawTroll]

OK, thank you Rick and Justin.........

.......so it is mainly a question of feel, anti-wibe and ergonomics then. It fits nicely into the picture that Stihl doesn't even offer the MS 440 for sale in Norway (and yes, I know that it (044) is an older construction than the 460 (046)).
Anyway, I think at least some of the statements I was referring to was about pure cutting performance, though.....

 

[SawTroll]

.....just an afterthought....

.....could it be that some people are confusing the 440/460 with the earlier 044/046. Basically same saws, but lower power rating....