Time to upgrade from my husk 450

[WhiteMike]

I need a new saw to replace my 450. I haven’t burnt wood in about 5 years and I remember having my heart set on a 572. I don’t care stihl or husky shop near me sells both and no I can’t buy a 500i. I live in the northwest and will be burning Doug(red) fir and western larch (tamarack) with butts typically in the 24” +/- range. Sometimes more than that. I was thinking something with a 28” bar and I’ll keep the 450 with a 20” for limbing.
what should I go for?

 

[husky455rancher]

Depends on the budget. I bought a husky 440 to use as a kinda throw away. I hated it so much I didn’t even keep it for that. After a few weeks I kicked it down the road. I know the 500i is expensive but it sure is worth it!

 

[Sawdust Man]

I just bought a stihl ms400.... very nice saw!
It makes a stock 372xp seem pretty sad to me, (and I love my 372xp)
Weight on the ms400 is exactly as advertised 12.8lb, the saw has gobs of power and speed. (it's light fast and powerful, just like a saw should be!)
I've mostly been a husky guy, but this thing is just plain sweet!
I've run lots of saws professionally, (242 all the way up 3120xp) and have never been quite as impressed with a new saw as I am with this one.
Another good option is the Echo CS-620p under $600 and a very solid machine, it's old school technology and very reliable, and it has lots of torque for cutting bigger wood.
I have no experience with the 572xp other than handling one at the dealer, my impression was BIG and HEAVY, if it's not a lot better than a stock 372xp I'd pass for sure.
This is all just my opinion / impression, others will most likely disagree.
Good luck!

 

[WhiteMike]

I’d like to keep it around 1000 or less. The ms400 looks nice, how would it handle a 28” bar in Doug fir and western larch?

 

[husky455rancher]

I’d like to keep it around 1000 or less. The ms400 looks nice, how would it handle a 28” bar in Doug fir and western larch?

I’ve never ran a 400 but 28 is a lotta bar for that saw I would think. Could limp it along with some skip chain or semi skip. I’m not
Mistaken the 400 compares to the 562xp. I love my 562 but I don’t think I’d put a 28 on it. Imo a 60cc saw is at home with a 20” on it.

 

[Sawdust Man]

I'm running a 20 inch bar on the ms400 cause that's what it came with, but I think it would run a 28 just fine.
I'm not a real fan of short bars, they are great for high performance cookie cutting, but when I'm working a saw I want to be able to cut the wood at hand without cutting from both sides, and bending over for 6 to 8 hours so you can limb with a 16 inch bar does not make sense to me.
The ms400 is around 66cc's so quite a bit more saw than the 562xp in my opinion.
Another plus to a pro Stihl saw is resale is better than anything else if you decide it won't work for you.

 

[Jmsvickers]

What about the 462? I don't have much input for the husky but I realy like my 462 and it does well with a 28" standard chain in yellow poplar, granted that's a soft wood but I imagine it would be close to your fir.

It weighs just a bit more than the 400, I haven't run a 400 but I can't see it being better than my 462 for the weight.

My local stihl sells the 400 with a 25" bar but the 462 has a 20" not sure why they set them up like that but they will put whatever B&C you want at no added cost.

 

[Sawdust Man]

462 is definitely more saw than the 400.... more power, a bit more weight, and sadly more $

 

[ElevatorGuy]

The 462 is awesome but it isn’t 1000 or under.

I also wouldn’t compare the ms400 to the 562.

I would choose the 400 at your price point, the echo if it’s price based but that’s a lot of bar for a 60 cc. You could get a new husky 372 as well but I wouldn’t.

 

[CaseyForrest]

I’d like to keep it around 1000 or less. The ms400 looks nice, how would it handle a 28” bar in Doug fir and western larch?

I'm sure it'll handle it fine in those softwoods. I use a 24/25" bar on mine for noodling MI hardwoods and it doesn't leave me wanting more.

572 would be the same experience.

 

[WhiteMike]

I tried like hell to find a 400 and it seems impossible in my area so I’m getting a 462 and comes with a 28” bar and full comp chain

 

[Jmsvickers]

I love my 462, it typically wears a 20" bar and chain, but I do have a 28" for it for bigger trees and stumps. Granted my other saw at the moment is a 250, so not much competition and I tend to treat the 250 like the 462 too often.

I'm sure you'll enjoy that 462! It's an awesome saw!

 

[Stihl User]

I need a new saw to replace my 450. I haven’t burnt wood in about 5 years and I remember having my heart set on a 572. I don’t care stihl or husky shop near me sells both and no I can’t buy a 500i. I live in the northwest and will be burning Doug(red) fir and western larch (tamarack) with butts typically in the 24” +/- range. Sometimes more than that. I was thinking something with a 28” bar and I’ll keep the 450 with a 20” for limbing.
what should I go for?

If weight and $ is not an issue, go with a MS661 or 592xp.

If weight and $ are an issue then go with MS462 or 572xp = you save a little, not much though.

If saving money is the main issue buy a used MS460/461, MS440, 372xp, 576xp, 390xp Jonsered 2171/2172/2166

Also Echo has 73cc & 80cc saws that is priced below Stihl & Husqvarna = CS-7310p or the CS-800p

Also check out the pricing of a Husq 585 or a used MS650/MS660