Stihl MS391 vs Husqvarna 460 Rancher.

by **FemoralArchery** » 03 25, 2014 • [Post 1]

Just what the title says. Both of these saws have pretty similar specs, less than $100 difference in price and are both in my price range. Anybody own one or the other or have experience with either?

by **jmez** » 03 25, 2014 • [Post 2]

Flip a coin. A lot of loggers around here that cut by hand. They are pretty much slip between Husky and Stihl. They will recommend or use either one. What I've been told is the Husky will run a touch hotter and therefore cut a little quicker than the Stihl. For a home/general use saw either one is fine and both will still be running long after you will. I bought a Stihl saw 15 years ago. Still starts right up with a couple pulls and it eats wood.

by **ElkNut1** » 03 26, 2014 • [Post 3]

I have the Stihl MS362 & my son has the next bigger one, not sure the exact size but both have 28" bars with a skip chain we use for our personal wood cutting & they do very well even with 36" tamaracks. Like Jason says you can't go wrong with either brand!

ElkNut1

by **Indian Summer** » 03 26, 2014 • [Post 4]

Both are awesome saws but Stihl and Husky's do behave a little differently. Jmez is right about the Husky running hotter. The result is that when you pull the trigger on a Stihl it takes a second for the rpms to come up. Not overly long but it is gradual. On a Husqvarna it's amazing how quickly the rpms go from idle to top end. Zero hesitation..... like a modern dirt bike. I have a Stihl and love it. But my next saw if I ever need one will be a Husqvarna. I ran one for a buddy for 3 days straight last year and really liked it.

by **pointysticks** » 03 27, 2014 • [Post 5]

I wanted a Stihl. My shop listened to my needs (weekend warrior, barely) and talked me out of it. He suggested an ECHO. It was half the money. It flat out rocks! It has the same double piston rings like the others so it revs to the moon like the rest. All my buds have great saws. I keep mine the sharpest and I am pretty smart about it. I have rescued everyone of them from a locked tree. I love this saw. I thing the only area it isn't as good is the bar oiler. Mine is the messiest.

by **Mav** » 03 29, 2014 • [Post 6]

I was a timber faller for a few years. I was the only guy on my crew that ran a stihl. The previous posts are true about huskys having more low end torque. The only other major difference between the two... I only brought my one saw, a stihl 460 with a 32" bar. Each other cutter brought two husky 372 xp saws for when the other one broke down.

by **FemoralArchery** » 03 30, 2014 • [Post 7]

I ended up buying the 391. I was hoping to put it to work this weekend but too much snow and rain put a damper on that.

Some time this week I will be able to get some cutting done.

by **NCelkhtr** » 03 31, 2014 • [Post 8]

I have always been a fan of both. The new husky's have a small computer chip in them now that regulates the saw. I have not spoke with anyone that has had any problems, but they also just came out. Myself I like to let others try out the brand new technologies for a couple of years and get them ironed out before I buy them.

by **FemoralArchery** » 04 06, 2014 • [Post 9]

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I think it'll work.

by **elkaholic** » 04 07, 2014 • [Post 10]

Awesome! What size of a bar did you go with? 25?

by **FemoralArchery** » 04 07, 2014 • [Post 11]

Ya, it came with a 25". I was worried it would be underpowered at 25" based on what I read online. As long as I kept the chain sharp it cut right through those junipers, some 30" trees.

I meant to take more pictures but I was one tired son of a gun after felling those things all day. Not to mention unexpectedly waking up to snow Saturday morning. I didn't want to get my camera out during the rain/snow/sleet/hail/wind/sun that we had that day.

by **FemoralArchery** » 04 07, 2014 • [Post 12]

Here's the only other pics I took.

I came to this tree. It was right in the middle of my cutting area and at first I was going to skip it over since I was alone and this was my first time felling trees other than a one hour crash course I got two weeks ago. I decided to tackle it any way.

I had more room on the right, so I figured I'd drop that one first. Trimmed some branches, made the wedge and did a bore cut to get that one to go over. It went over without a hitch.

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I trimmed some branches on the remaining trunk and then the wedge ( to the left) and started the back cut. I made it all the way to the hinge. I put in a wedge behind the saw, just in case it didn't want to go. I didn't feel like I could go any farther with the saw so I started pounding in the wedge. That one didn't do anything so I went to the other side and pounded that one in all the way as well. One crack was all I heard, and no movement. I had one other wedge back at camp, so I made the hike back to get it. I was completely soaked with sweat and got pretty cold by the time I got to camp. I decide to sit in the jeep and get warmed up for a minute. I dozed off for about 20 minutes and when I woke up, I grabbed the final wedge and headed back to the tree. I made it to about 40 yards from the tree before I realized the tree had fallen at some point while I was napping. I was glad it fell, because I wasn't really sure what the next step was.

Felling trees may be the hardest I've ever worked for "fun". I plan on taking more pics and maybe a little video next trip.

by **Mav** » 04 07, 2014 • [Post 13]

Where are you from femoral? Junipers are tough as can be on chains. I don't know how long you've been cutting. I think you said these are some of the first you have done? Anyhow if I overstep just let me know. Make sure you leave enough hinge. Junipers it's not as critical cause they are so short but on taller trees things can go bad real quick of you don't leave enough hinge. That one tree you showed looks pretty gnarly. I was teaching a greenhorn once and we center across a maple that was a death waiting to happen. I told him it was his to cut and he started to argue. I told him. Hey if you can cut that thing you can cut any tree In This forest and I would rather you try it while I'm here to help if need be. I did have to take over pretty quick but cutting those ugly ones is how you learn to do the easy ones faster and be more safe about it. Happy cutting!!

by **FemoralArchery** » 04 07, 2014 • [Post 14]

Mav, I'm from southwest idaho.

I am open to any advice. I am completely green when it comes to running a saw at all, let alone felling trees. Junipers are a huge pain in the rear. Most have a dozen or more branches starting at the ground up to comfortable working height for me.

I work at about 1/2 the pace or slower than my partner(s) because I clear enough branches to make a comfortable work area. Then I stop the saw and move all the branches out of my way before I start the cutting down process.

I often notice exactly what you said with the hinge. I always try to make a nice clean wedge and a good square back cut. It always seems that by the time the tree starts moving, I'm just about through the hinge. After the tree falls, I always take a second to look at the stump to see how much hinge I left and how square it was.

I was really surprised that my first chain made it through about 6 hours of cutting without much difference in sharpness. The landowner wants us to cut the stumps close to the ground so I was worried about my chain dulling quickly, but it seemed to hold up fine.

It sure takes a lot of junipers to make a decent amount of firewood... We laid down enough trees for around 25 ish cords. That's about one third of our goal for the year, so there's tons and tons of work left to do.

by **Mav** » 04 08, 2014 • [Post 15]

Ha ha ya when it comes to juniper there is always more cutting to be done!!! Juniper is hard on the cutter because of the branches but your doing it right to get them clear.

One suggestion for the low stumps might be a conventional face cut. I didn't use it often because it uses merchantable timber. But for firewood it might be a good solution.

As far as the hinge goes. The deeper the face cut the sooner the tree will tip. This can be dangerous if you go too deep but it doesn't take too many to learn that "sweet spot". If you ever have any questions feel free to send me a message or pictures. I'm no genius but I'm happy to help with what I can.

by **elkaholic** » 04 09, 2014 • [Post 16]

Good looking wood trees! What are you using to re sharpen your chains? Hand file, electric sharpener, or bench mounted grinder?

by **FemoralArchery** » 04 09, 2014 • [Post 17]

Mav thanks for the offer. I'm sure I will have plenty of questions and pictures.

Elkaholic, I have a hand file with the guide on it, but haven't used it yet as I'm afraid to ruin a $30 chain lol. My partner has a cordless dremel that he brings to camp and he has a bench grinder type at his shop.

by **elkaholic** » 04 09, 2014 • [Post 18]

I used to use a dremel type sharpener but I wasn't consistent in keeping my teeth at the same angle. When your teeth are off it makes cutting big trees almost impossible.

I found this fella and it is awesome!!
http://t.harborfreight.com/electric-cha ... gle.com%2F

It's not a high dollar grinder but it is consistent and I keep it in my saw box in my four wheeler. With a 110 converter I can use it in the woods.

Watch out for those junipers as their branches are knarly. Even though I wear ear muffs, a hard hat, and goggles I still had one give me 14 stitches about two inches from my left eye. It would have been a lot worse if that stuff hadn't taken the brunt of it.

by **FemoralArchery** » 05 12, 2014 • [Post 19]

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by **FemoralArchery** » 05 12, 2014 • [Post 20]

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Here you can see the area we've cut.

We have hauled 8 cord home now. Only about 50 to go...

by **elkaholic** » 05 12, 2014 • [Post 21]

That's a lot of water freed up!! Looks great.

by **FemoralArchery** » 05 13, 2014 • [Post 22]

elkaholic wrote:That's a lot of water freed up!!.

I know, I'm still trying to figure out where I can send that bill to.

I'm going on the blm tour next week so hopefully I will be able to learn more about junipers and how to use them.

by **elkaholic** » 05 17, 2014 • [Post 23]

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FemoralArchery wrote:
elkaholic wrote:That's a lot of water freed up!!.

I know, I'm still trying to figure out where I can send that bill to.

I'm going on the blm tour next week so hopefully I will be able to learn more about junipers and how to use them.

Sorry fellas. Femoral set that up too good for me not to take a shameless plug.. Here are a couple of things that I have learned to do with them over the years. Dining table set with half stump bench and a fireplace mantel.

by **FemoralArchery** » 05 17, 2014 • [Post 24]

Beautiful work elkaholic. I've rested my beer more than once on a coffee table you made.

I feel good when I make a nice piece of firewood, I can't imagine making something like that.

Mostly I just love running the chainsaw. I'm still a rank amateur at best, but I do love it. I always mean to take more pictures, but I get in the zone with all my PPE on with my headphones underneath. [HEADPHONE]

by **elkaholic** » 05 17, 2014 • [Post 25]

Thanks Femoral. Don't get me wrong I still grin like a kid at Christmas looking over the wrath after hours of falling junipers. I feel like I am contributing a great deal to not only my family but to the ecosystem with every tree that goes down. Watch the grass explode next year where you cut. It's pretty cool to see.

by **Lefty** » 05 18, 2014 • [Post 26]

elkaholic wrote: Dining table set with half stump bench and a fireplace mantel.

[/quote]
great woodwork!!

My dad burned wood in his shop, my brothers only used wood in their uninsulated farmhouse, and the house my wife and I now own came with a pellet, wood stove and 2 cords of wood,..
and I haven't started the saw Stihl in three years

by **Mav** » 06 06, 2014 • [Post 27]

That is sure a gorgeous table!!! Most folks I know make tables out of the juniper. Or other furniture. My brother had a friend make him a table and benches as well as a hat rack. Terrible tree... Gorgeous furniture!!

by **twinkieman** » 06 07, 2014 • [Post 28]

Both are great saws. My personal preference is the Stihl. I have used a friends Husky, ran great, cut great, I'm just a Stihl fan.

by **blackbruin** » 06 13, 2014 • [Post 29]

I don't think either one is much different than the other, both "farm grade" saws. Personally I'm a jonsered man, use a 2171 a lot, skip tooth rsc stihl chain, last much longer in hardwoods than Carlton or Oregon chain. Lots of plastic anymore these days, just put good 2stroke oil in the appropriate ratio and only mix what your gonna use in a month or so, this ethanol gas screws saws up a lot.

by **FemoralArchery** » 06 21, 2014 • [Post 30]

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by **elkaholic** » 06 22, 2014 • [Post 31]

Looks like a neat place to be cutting. How many cord are you up too?

by **FemoralArchery** » 06 22, 2014 • [Post 32]

28 as of yesterday.

I was hoping I would run into you again at the wedding so we could talk about the blm tour, but alas, you seemed to have disappeared.

by **elkaholic** » 06 26, 2014 • [Post 33]

When you get a chance I'm curious as to how it went. We had to scoot as to get the kids to bed and the chores done before dark.
Good seeing ya!