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Jyoung1901

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Dec 3, 2024
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Location
Tennessee
Hi! This is my first post but have lurked for a while as there is so much good information here.

I am a landowner and we live on 54 acres or so with ~40 or so being woods. I also am the primary land manager at my FIL's 150 acres in Kentucky that we are having select cut currently but will be doing major TSI/FSI for habitat management after the logging over the next few years.

When we bought our land in 2020 I purchased an MS271 with an 18" bar and it has served me well thus far. Even dropping some good size oaks (guessing 28" or so), including my first ever plunging back cut on a leaner that I had to do from both sides as the bar was too short.

However, in May this past year we had a EF3 Tornado go through our woods. about 12 acres of are 90% loss and mostly all blowdown but we have a grant to have an excavator come in and stack and burn. The other 18 acres varies from 60% loss to 10% or so. Some good size oaks a ton of cedar varying from small to large. The 18 acres I am cleaning up using my Kubota MX5400 with a grapple and my saw. Some felling and flush cutting for access, some limbing and bucking to get trees to movable sizes with the tractor to pile and burn. My 271 has felt too small a lot of times flush cutting as well as have some big leaners that ill need to take down. I have taught myself (ok and a lot of "Guilty of Treeson" youtube Videos) a ton and feel more skilled than the average homeowner (trying to determine tension and compression in tornado path blowdown has been a new level of challenge :oops:). I don't try anything I don't feel pretty confident I can do safely, but adding in cutting from both sides, bogging the saw, etc. adds variables that would seem wise to eliminate so I can make the cuts a simple as possible.

Also, the vibration after a few hours of a lot of cutting just becomes extremely fatiguing.

Given the tornado cleanup at home, TSI/KSI plans in Kentucky, and firewood, I will be spending a lot of time on the saw the next few years and have decided to get a pro saw. I know people preach that a 20" bar is the ticket a majority of the time, but my 18" bar has felt too small for a lot of what I have ahead of me so I feel that a 25" light bar may be the ticket? I am pretty set on Stihl as I am familiar with them and my Kubota/Stihl dealer is great and close.

The three I have been mainly trying to decide between and what I seemed to have picked up from my research:
1. MS400
Pros: Super smooth, Light weight, smaller, rated up to 25" bar
Cons: I have heard 25" is pushing it in oak, Oils sparingly on 25", No option to go to a bigger bar if needed, plastic handle

2. MS500i
Pros: Extremely versatile, powerful, can run a longer bar if I ever need it
Cons: Expensive, Physically bigger,

3. MS462
Pros: Goldilocks between the 2, Plenty of power for up to 28"
Cons: The main drawback for me, is if I'm going to spend $1469, why would I not just spring for the 500i ($1609) and know Ill have enough saw for anything except milling.

Sorry for the long post, but I have researched a lot. However, with my use case I am in a weird spot where I am a just a homeowner / land manager, but have probably 100+ hours of saw time doing basically every type of cutting except climbing in the near future. My main worries is if I get the 400 and run a 25" bar, I'll still want more power because I see such mixed opinions on it running a 25" when felling/flush cutting hardwoods.
 
That would be a tough decision!
Very well thought out choices here.
I have put together and made a few cuts with the 500i (as a dealer) a nice saw. Would I want one? Maybe... but... $$$$
My vote would be to go with the 462, The 400 is really only a little better than your 271, which is actually a really nice saw!
You get a good 2 saw plan here...
Run a 24 inch bar, and if needed it could pull a 28 to a 30, but with those hard woods would be a little short on ooomph.
 
The Stihl 462 would be the choice,


Understood with dealer support, but the Echo 7310 would also be a great choice for cheaper.


Mad3400
 
The ms462 powerhead is more than 1.5 lb lighter and throw on stihl’s ES light weight bar and it will feel even lighter again. (Dealer should be able to upgrade for a small difference)
Echo make decent engines, but the 462 does not “feel” heavy as it has excellent balance imo
 
I was in a similar situation and went with an Echo 7310p, after 10 tanks, muffler mod and retune I couldn't be happier. It just rocks a 28" bar in any hardwood. Main reason for not going with the 500i was, all the complaints about the air filter not sealing. Im sorry but a $50 air filter upgrade kit on a $1300 saw is crazy. The 7310P has the best air filtration in chainsaw history.
 
That may be the case, the 271 is just a little over 50cc.
The 400 is about 66cc, but the 462 is about 72cc

I will still stay with my suggestion that the 462 is the way to go, if staying brand loyal.
Yeah, there are others out there that make good saws. I have had a few echo's out here, I have worked on a few Husky's, etc.
 
That may be the case, the 271 is just a little over 50cc.
The 400 is about 66cc, but the 462 is about 72cc

I will still stay with my suggestion that the 462 is the way to go, if staying brand loyal.
Yeah, there are others out there that make good saws. I have had a few echo's out here, I have worked on a few Husky's, etc.
Have you run a 400? The 271 is a turd compared to a 400. Weight is within .5 pounds yet the 400 makes almost 2 more hp. They’re nothing alike.
 
Have you run a 400? The 271 is a turd compared to a 400. Weight is within .5 pounds yet the 400 makes almost 2 more hp. They’re nothing alike.
I assumed the 271 to 400 would be a noticeable jump in power and smoothness given 271 has no AV and a 50.2 cc saw. Is that the consensus from those who have used a 400 that it is a pretty big upgrade from a 50 CC saw?

given the 400 is lighter and physically smaller than the other two, and cheaper, I feel this is probably a good choice as most of the time 18" has been fine but need to be able to go up to 25", and ill be running it all day on the weekends. However the desire to just go bigger for "what if" is present.

but I value the opinions on here saying 462 so am really rethinking it may be the way to go.

Is there much difference in Vibration between these three?
 
The Stihl 462 would be the choice,


Understood with dealer support, but the Echo 7310 would also be a great choice for cheaper.


Mad3400
Thanks! I have looked at the Echo's and know they make great power. I will be buying their PB 9010 backpack blower for making firebreaks in the next few months.

Other than dealer support, my concern with the Echo was just the weight given the amount of time ill be using it all day. but I guess thats where the $ / Power / Weight equation comes in, I have to pick 2 out of three ha.
 
I was in a similar situation and went with an Echo 7310p, after 10 tanks, muffler mod and retune I couldn't be happier. It just rocks a 28" bar in any hardwood. Main reason for not going with the 500i was, all the complaints about the air filter not sealing. Im sorry but a $50 air filter upgrade kit on a $1300 saw is crazy. The 7310P has the best air filtration in chainsaw history.

Yes, Echo pro saws are probably the most reliable and durable pro saws on the market- especially the 7310 and 620. They start easily and have just enough weight/mass to deaden vibration for smooth operation.

There are plenty of vids on YT showing stock Echo 7310 almost dead even in timed cuts with stock 462 and 500i. And ported, they make big gains. In one video, the 7310 with a 20 inch bar is better balanced in the hand than the 500i with the same bar. In another video a stock 620p out of the box is right behind the 7310 and a few Stihls (462, 500i) & Huskies.

About the only thing Echo needs to do differently is offer heated handles on the 620 and 7310.
 
I assumed the 271 to 400 would be a noticeable jump in power and smoothness given 271 has no AV and a 50.2 cc saw. Is that the consensus from those who have used a 400 that it is a pretty big upgrade from a 50 CC saw?

given the 400 is lighter and physically smaller than the other two, and cheaper, I feel this is probably a good choice as most of the time 18" has been fine but need to be able to go up to 25", and ill be running it all day on the weekends. However the desire to just go bigger for "what if" is present.

but I value the opinions on here saying 462 so am really rethinking it may be the way to go.

Is there much difference in Vibration between these three?
I own a 261 (ported) and a 462. I bought a 400 because I had to try it and sold it. The 400 was fine but I didn’t need it. I doubt Patrick has ever run a 400 based on that terrible advice. I also have the echo 9010 blower, It’s a beast. Their saws are ok too but too heavy and low on power compared to the pro stihls or huskys. They’re also cheaper which some people like. I wouldn’t buy another echo saw unless they catch up. I had an echo 590 when I got my 462. I promptly sold the echo, The 462 is 12cc larger and is lighter.
 
The 462 would be the way to go here IMO. Haven't cut with one but I've ran the 400 and 500. Based on my experience with those two saws, I'd say the 400 can run a 24" if you don't push on it too hard but is better served with a 20" in hardwood, the 500 can easily run a 28" if needed. I think the 462 would be a nice middle ground between the two, especially if you don't want to spend over $1600 for the 500
 
Thanks! I have looked at the Echo's and know they make great power. I will be buying their PB 9010 backpack blower for making firebreaks in the next few months.

Other than dealer support, my concern with the Echo was just the weight given the amount of time ill be using it all day. but I guess thats where the $ / Power / Weight equation comes in, I have to pick 2 out of three ha.
The Stihl obliterates, in the Power to Weight ratio department,

It's a pound lighter which could be a noticeable difference,

But depending on where you get the Echo you could save $200-500.

Also, you won't be disappointed with the Echo PB 9010, it Rocks!


Mad3400
 
(trying to determine tension and compression in tornado path blowdown has been a new level of challenge :oops:).
I feel ya on that one. I did a bunch of cleanup work of toppled casuarinas after hurricanes twenty years ago at my parents' place in Florida. They went over by the roots and were a nightmare of tension/compression fully and partially fallen in different ways. Was young and irresponsible and chainsaw cowboy-ed a bunch of them. Only fell off one into the mangrove swamp once lol. Blowdowns are such a headache to work.

As far as saws, everyone's suggestions are generally good. I'm partial to the 26/36/46 0/1/2 line of Stihls after getting rebuilding a 361 I love (just seems so small and light compared to 59cc Echos and Huskys) and having an arborist buddy who loves the power/weight of his 261. They all seem to be the best power/weight of their class. I'm sure the newer models of Stihls are nice, I just don't have any saw newer than 10 years old.
 

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