War: Husky vs. Stihl

[MISDH]

I have to buy a new saw to begin some semi-serious cutting (several thousand trees).  I want an 18-20" bar and just a nice starting, easy maintenance saw.  I'm not favoring either brand, but if you had to have "one saw" for the average Joe cutting, what would it be??  Be specific with the model #'s.  I'm 41, 5'9" and 175 lbs. and don't want a big saw (I have one).
Let the lead fly...

[sfgjon]

Oooooooh, let me be the first to reply. Not that I am an expert by any means, but.... you can't go wrong with a Stihl MS361. Plenty of power, runs a 20" well, decompression valve and light enough that it won't kill you after a long day.
And, it's got white on it!!!!

[Jeff]

Sorry, no wars on the Forestry Forum. 

[logger]

Sorry, no wars on the Forestry Forum. 

Yup, # 1 rule on FF no wars!

[Steven A.]

What are you cutting? Christmas trees, red oak veneer logs, old growth conifers?

[pbuehning]

361 and never look back!

[Tim L]

I have a 372xp that I love, but my brother-in-law has a Stihl 034 that he has had for years and I like his saw also. Find a good dealer you like and go with him.

[Dave Shepard]

+1 on what you are going to cut. I have owned both Husky and Stihl. One of my favuorite saws was my Husky 394XP, which is going to get rebuilt this summer only becuase I like it so much. Right now I am running my Stihl 036PRO(earlier version of the 361 I believe) and a Husky 66. The 66 is older technology, but it rips and is very reliable. The 036(361) is a great mid-sized saw, it will work well for both felling and limbing/bucking of mid-sized trees, say 18" or so. I do use it on bigger trees, but it is easier to go with the bigger saw. Most of the loggers in my area are running Stihl MS460s, which may be bigger than what you are looking for. I will only buy Stihls new now becuase that is what my dealers carry, they have dropped Husky due to their affiliation with the big box stores. What dealers do you have nearby? That may be more important than whether you buy Husky or Stihl.


Dave

[caz]

Just my 2 cents if you can find a good older swedish made husky there is nothing better

The new ones (big box stores) huskys, just plain junk.

Again just my 2 cents

[Mooseherder]

I have to buy a new saw to begin some semi-serious cutting (several thousand trees). 

How many trees would qualify serious?

[MISDH]

Hey, Sorry about the "war" comment, It's kind of like blondes vs. brunettes (red heads?),  I thought there'd be alot of passion out there about the best saw.  I'll be cutting down about 3,500 Austrian pines, and then cherry and maple for firewood. I've got a Husky dealer nearby, and wanted the best model numbers to avoid the "cheap ones".
Keep 'em comin'.
Thanks

[Dan_Shade]

what type of saw is your "big saw".  you may want to stick to the same manufacturer so you may be able to swap some parts, bars, chains, etc (if possible).

[sawguy21]

What Dave Shepherd said. Either brand will serve you very well, dealer availability and support is the key. Personally, I would go for the Husky 359 for your application but the MS361 is a decent saw too. Over to the Stihl guys.

[oldsaw]

What Dave Shepherd said. Either brand will serve you very well, dealer availability and support is the key. Personally, I would go for the Husky 359 for your application but the MS361 is a decent saw too. Over to the Stihl guys.

I'll vote for that.  What gets dealer support in your area.  Looks like I'm losing my Husky dealer, but gaining a Stihl dealer to replace the crappy one I don't go to anymore (50-100% mark-up over retail on parts, wanted me to pay shipping but had to wait for their regular order to come in...that went over well with me)

Mark

[Dave Shepard]

MISDH, there certainly is a lot of passion for a particular brand of saw, but everything must be viewed objectively. I love the 066, but I wouldn't use it for brush. Oh, wait, I do use it for brush. Hmm, I love the 066 but I wouldn't recommend it to prune a rose bush. I think we need to know what your big saw is to recommend a smaller sized one. I personally would use at least an MS 460 if I was cutting everyday, but that is me, I can run a big saw all day.


Dave

[logger]

Hey, Sorry about the "war" comment, It's kind of like blondes vs. brunettes (red heads?),  I thought there'd be alot of passion out there about the best saw.  I'll be cutting down about 3,500 Austrian pines, and then cherry and maple for firewood. I've got a Husky dealer nearby, and wanted the best model numbers to avoid the "cheap ones".
Keep 'em comin'.
Thanks

That's alright, I was just messin' with ya.   For the lightness and power I would get a Stihl 440 or Husky 372.  They should be the best for your application.    

[SawTroll]

+1 on what you are going to cut. I have owned both Husky and Stihl. One of my favuorite saws was my Husky 394XP, which is going to get rebuilt this summer only becuase I like it so much. Right now I am running my Stihl 036PRO(earlier version of the 361 I believe) ..... 

That isn't quite right, the 361 is a newer and in several ways better design. The only thing it has in common with the 036/360 is the place in the model lineup.

[SawTroll]

What Dave Shepherd said. Either brand will serve you very well, dealer availability and support is the key. Personally, I would go for the Husky 359 for your application but the MS361 is a decent saw too. Over to the Stihl guys.

I would stay away from the 359, as it is the "weaker brother" of the 357xp.

If they are large enough, i would prefere the MS361 to the 357xp for allound use, mostly because the 357 has an outboard sprocket, but for felling only, it doesn't really matter.......

The Husky 372xp is the next step, if you need something larger.

[stumpy]

Excuse my interuption, but what's the issue with an outboard sproket?  Just wondering?

[Fred]

I have an 036 Stihl and love it.
                         Fred

[rebocardo]

> some semi-serious cutting (several thousand trees). 
> I want an 18-20" bar and just a nice starting, easy maintenance saw. 
> but if you had to have "one saw" for the average Joe cutting

That is not average Joe cutting when talking thousands of trees, but, I would say a Husky 372 as light enough to still use on the tops, but, still powerful enough to bucks thousands of trees quickly.

No matter if Husky or Stihl, if you are going to be running the saw thousands of hours, you are going to need repairs sooner or later or an outright replacement.

If you are going to do repairs yourself or send the Husky away for repairs (say to Baileys), or just buy another saw when it wears out, then I would go Husky.

Otherwise, I would lean towards Stihl and buy from a local dealer.

One thing you should factor in is chain cost and choice since the chains you use will end up costing more then the saw.

I would lean heavily towards saws that ran the 3/8 x 50 gauge high profile as this seems the most popular with the cheapest pre-made loops and lowest cost and widest choice of chains for the price.

imo, One draw back for the Stihls (which did not stop me from buying the small saws MS-180 and MS-270) is the .043 and .063 gauge these saws use. If I used them all the time as I do my Husky 365s, I would not have picked them for the operating cost in chains alone.

I like all my bigger saws to use all the same chain and bars with the .375 x .050 high profile.
That way I carry only two saws, two bars, and 8 chains, (4) 20" and (4) 28" and swap them out every three tanks (one hour of cutting) for a new sharp one and flip the bar. This covers me for five hours of solid cutting time.

[SawTroll]

Excuse my interuption, but what's the issue with an outboard sproket?  Just wondering?

The main issue is that it makes the space under the clutch cover a good bit "busier", which could (and does) interrupt the ship flow. This is normally an issue mostly when cleaving wood with the saw, making those long curlies.

It also makes it all but impossible to remove the powerhead from the bar, if the bar gets stuck.

Other people will list more issues, but those above are the ones that really count.

[TexasTimbers]

Excuse my interuption, but what's the issue with an outboard sproket?  Just wondering?

It also makes it all but impossible to remove the powerhead from the bar, if the bar gets stuck.

I wil vouch for that I made a post in the logging section called "Remove The Powerhead" where i described briefly how I was working "frantically" I belive was the word I used to remove the 395XP powerhead from the bar and that was an understatement. i was lucky to get it off in time I basically felt like I had ripped a basketball from from the mouth of a gator to get it to let go right at the last.

[jokers]

Excuse my interuption, but what's the issue with an outboard sproket?  Just wondering?

It also makes it all but impossible to remove the powerhead from the bar, if the bar gets stuck.

I wil vouch for that I made a post in the logging section called "Remove The Powerhead" where i described briefly how I was working "frantically" I belive was the word I used to remove the 395XP powerhead from the bar and that was an understatement. i was lucky to get it off in time I basically felt like I had ripped a basketball from from the mouth of a gator to get it to let go right at the last.

Hey! I`ve got an idea, use wedges! 

[jokers]

Just my 2 cents if you can find a good older swedish made husky there is nothing better

The new ones (big box stores) huskys, just plain junk.

Again just my 2 cents

What is wrong with any of the new, Swedish made Huskies?

I also have to disagree with your broad statement that any of the Huskies available in the box stores are junk although I would direct this person or anyone else to a real dealer if possible. The 340,345,350, and 359 are all very good saws and available in the "box" stores.

[jokers]

I'll be cutting down about 3,500 Austrian pines, and then cherry and maple for firewood. I've got a Husky dealer nearby, and wanted the best model numbers to avoid the "cheap ones".
Keep 'em comin'.
Thanks

I`d size the saw for the pine removal so depending on the size of the pine you might be best off with a smaller saw like a 346xp or a 353, your back will thank you, or if the trees warrant more jam get a 359 or 357xp of which I would choose the 357xp if it will remain stock.

If you go with a Stihl I would consider the ms260, ms280, or my favorite new Stihl, the ms361(I really like this one! ). I`ve either had or currently still have all of the models I mentioned and they are all first rate saws

[onionman]

I carry 2 saws when I head to the woods a 346xp and a 3120 with a 36"bar.
 Most of the time the 3120 stays in the truck.The 346 has a 18" bar  and just plain cuts!

[Handy Andy]

  I have a neighbor who bought a new Husky, says it runs great once it is started, but has a hard time starting it in morning.  After first  start, restarts good all day. Is that
normal?  He couldn't tell me the #.  I have a couple of the cheap Stihl's.  Odd numbers
250 and 290.  Someone told me I should have bought the even # saws as they are
better built.  The 260 was almost 2x the price of the 290, so that's the one I got. 

[sawguy21]

I would be interested learning which Husky he bought, some of the entry level one's are built by Poulan which Husky owns and are light duty consumer saws. The even numbered Stihls are generally better built but their numbering system is all over the map now so this is not always true. 'The 260 was almost 2x the price of the 290, so that's the one I got.' The 260 is designed for the pro user where the 290 is a farm, ranch, serious weekend wood cutter saw and too DanG heavy. 

[SawTroll]

Just my 2 cents if you can find a good older swedish made husky there is nothing better

The new ones (big box stores) huskys, just plain junk.

Again just my 2 cents

What is wrong with any of the new, Swedish made Huskies?

I also have to disagree with your broad statement that any of the Huskies available in the box stores are junk although I would direct this person or anyone else to a real dealer if possible. The 340,345,350, and 359 are all very good saws and available in the "box" stores.

I'll be cutting down about 3,500 Austrian pines, and then cherry and maple for firewood. I've got a Husky dealer nearby, and wanted the best model numbers to avoid the "cheap ones".
Keep 'em comin'.
Thanks

I`d size the saw for the pine removal so depending on the size of the pine you might be best off with a smaller saw like a 346xp or a 353, your back will thank you, or if the trees warrant more jam get a 359 or 357xp of which I would choose the 357xp if it will remain stock.

If you go with a Stihl I would consider the ms260, ms280, or my favorite new Stihl, the ms361(I really like this one! ). I`ve either had or currently still have all of the models I mentioned and they are all first rate saws

I agree with you, Russ - on all accounts this time....

The MS361 sure is a very nice saw - if it is too large for the project, I believe the 346xp or Dolmar PS-5100S are the best choises.....

Those 3 saws have about the same power to weight ratio, so it is just a question of choosing the right size for the application........

[SawTroll]

  I have a neighbor who bought a new Husky, says it runs great once it is started, but has a hard time starting it in morning.  After first  start, restarts good all day. Is that
normal?   

That is a bit odd, but my 353 is not an instant starter when it has been resting for more than a week or two. Just pull the starter rope slowly out a couple of times, before making a real attempt to start.

Also, open the choke after 3-4 pulls, regardless if there is a "pop".....

My 372xpg is a real easy starter, though, even after sitting for months, and so is the ol' Jreds. The MS361 is something inbetween.

My guess is that it has something to do with carb sizes, but I don't really know...

[Tim L]

My 372xp is a little cold blooded on the first start. After that, it's a one pull machine . My brother in law's 034 starts like a dream when it's cold .

[jjmk98k]

My 350 can be a little snotty to start on cold mornings, but once running and warm, she starts first pull each timer after..... my 372XP starts up right away each and every time.


As a side note, my 350 was a "big box" store purchase and I have been very pleased with it. In the fall i did some hard cutting with it and it never let me down. I made sure i sharped the chain once the chips were getting small....  This saw runs very well!

[blaze83]

I know husky makes a good saw, but all my experience is with stihl...When I worked for the forest service a few years back we ran 034's with 20" bars. used them to slash and also fall snags and cut fire line on fires...they ran for ever just stopped to refuel and file or change chains 12 to 16 hours a day on fires.  I personally have an 044 with a 28" bar, not familiar with the new number designations of stihl, but if the ms361  is what the ol 034's used to be it's a good saw.


As a side note, I'd be cutting the pine up for fire wood and turning the charry and maple into lumber 

just my 2 cents

blaze

[joe_indi]

Husky 372xp 365xp are very reliable saws, maybe not as fast as a Stihl  equivalent, but reliable mechanically.Small irritants exist like screws coming loose , grounding wire snagging with the flywheel, vibration damper on the cylinder snapping and ignition lead shorting due to contact with the flywheel.
Carb on 365 is a Zama which does not come up to the standard of the Walbro on the 372.
Both have limiter caps now, which can be easily removed in case you need to fine tune.
The real downer is the original ignition module(black) has been replaced with a new one (blue)which has a speed limiter.
This restricts you from doing the "extra bits" to your saw.
But 'what one man does another man can undo' or improve.
The ignition module of a 385  which has no  speed limiter fits perfectly, with a trimming down of the extra length of ignition lead.
A MS460 Walbro can be easily modified to fit into the Husky. This carb has better progression between low and high speeds.That  gives you superb acceleration.Plus you have the option to fit the ideal fixed jet that suits your application.Choice is 0.64, 0.68, 0.70, 0.74.I fpersonally found 0.70 ideal for sea level and 0.68 for altitudes of 2000ft MSL. 064 might be required for higher altitudes and 0.74 if you plan to do any logging in Israel!!
By removing the limiter caps and replacing the existing L and H screws with the older typeswith springs(still available as spare parts)you get maximum scope for carb adjustment.
With just these  changes the Husky 372xp is more or less an even match for the MS460.
In the Stihl "stable' I would root for the Brazilian models of the MS380 and MS360.
The 380 Magnum with a change from spur sprocket to a rim type give you the option of fitting a 8 teeth rim which easily compensates for the 1K revs that it lacks comared to the MS460.
The MS360 when fitted with the STIHL 18" Rollomatic ES 1.3mm bar gives you the option of using two chain types.Either the 33RS 1.3mm Full Chisel or the 63PM Picco Micro Chisel.The latter with a 8 teeth Rim is like rocket!

[JD hauler]

If your not a full time user, dont pay for a new saw , get on ebay, you can find alot of saws on there and often times some really good deals on clean saws that were only used a little bit.  I sure would get a husky if it was me, I have had both stihl and husky and the huskys in my opinion start better cold or hot run a tad more responsive.  seem just to be a better built saw to me. it also comes down to what dealer is near you, if you lose a bolt, need a filter, or chain , I dont even mind the snobby dealers , cause they mostly are, they are in business and your not paying for their attitiude , just parts and maybe service if you dont work on it yourself, the parts are the same cost if they are happy that day or not.

[SawTroll]

Husky 372xp 365xp are very reliable saws, maybe not as fast as a Stihl  equivalent,.... 

I find that comment a bit odd, to say the least.

...and there is no 365xp, and no Stihl equivalent to the 365..........

 

[fuzzybear]

I only have one thing to say ........DOLMAR PS-7900........used one yesterday and ordered a new one today.   Power to weight was amazing.   I felt like Luke Skywalker with a chainsaw

[Corley5]

So what about the Stihl 441 with it's "new" prefiltration air intake system    Anybody got one   They any good

[jokers]

So what about the Stihl 441 with it's "new" prefiltration air intake system    Anybody got one   They any good

I haven`t run one but I`ve heard from a few people that I consider saw knowledgable that they are a nice saw to run, I just question why you wouldn`t just buy a 460 for only a little more money since the saws weigh about the same. I was in the market for an Arctic saw earlier this year and two of my choices were the 441 and 460. The choice for me was a no brainer, my 3rd 460. 

[joe_indi]

 

I find that comment a bit odd, to say the least.

...and there is no 365xp, and no Stihl equivalent to the 365..........

Mea Culpa for the "xp" after the 365.


As per Stihl's own comparison charts the Stihl equivalent of the 365 is the MS 390

[TexasTimbers]

joe i was looking for that comparison chart the other day on stihls website and could not find it. i have seen it before but just couldn't locate it - just`tried again and still could not find it.

[sawguy21]

The 365 and MS390 are close to the same displacement and both are saws but that is about the only similarity. 

[joe_indi]

joe i was looking for that comparison chart the other day on stihls website and could not find it. i have seen it before but just couldn't locate it - just`tried again and still could not find it.

kevjay, you won't find the comparison chart that I refered to on any website.It is a booklet given to Stihl distributors only.I was fortunate to have a look into one of those and note down Stihl's equivalent of its competitor's models.

The 365 and MS390 are close to the same displacement and both are saws but that is about the only similarity.

Very true, sawguy21, but that is Stihl's opinion regarding an equivalent for the 365.
The 372xp is equivalent to a MS440. The only differences between the 372xp and a 365 are the piston,cylinder and the carb.Change these on a 365 and you have a 372.
Talk of converting a MS390 into a MS440, people would thing you are ready for the funny farm.Because the MS390 has a horizontally split shortblock in  a polymer casing which does not belong to the professional class of saws. But the MS440 has a vertically split crankcase of magnesium alloy. Ditto the 372 and the 365

[windthrown]

For cutting thousands of trees? You did not say what sized trees, or if they are soft or hard wood. If you are going to cut thousands of trees with a 20 inch bar, you are going to need/want a good power to weight ratio pro model saw. I do not have any experience with the Husky line of saws, and I am biased toward Stihl. I cut hundreds of trees here; felling, thinning, and cutting firewood. Hard and softwoods.

I would go with either the Stihl MS 361 or the MS 441. Both are newer bullet-proof EPA friendly models with good spring-mounted vibration dampening. Read: smooth. The 441 has slightly better power to weight ratio. But it is heavier and wider. After all day sawyering you are going to be wiped out with that kind of weight (with your light body frame). You said that you have a larger saw already, so you may want the 361. The 460 is a good high end saw and will cut through anything, but it is a bear to manage all day long (been there, done that). It has a lot of vibrartion. Vibration can lead to white finger, tendonitis, or arthritis, or aggrivate them if you already have them. The 441 would be a better option. You are also going to want something lighter and less vibe prone than a 390, and the 361 would be a better option.

Now, for modifying them, the 441 has a new type of flow-through design, and it does not lend itself to great performance improvement when muffler and/or port modded. The 361 will dance if modded (though it will be louder). Open the muffler up a bit and it will probably give you all the power that you need. Both of these saws will drive a full range of bars in the size that you want. Both have full pro features and will last and put up with extreme use.

BTW: if you do not already have a smaller saw, I would also advise a small 30-40cc saw for limbing and thinning small diameter trees. Even the 361 can get heavy after a day of use. Switch to a smaller light saw and it is easy to trim and thin. For that I would get an MS180 to MS250 size saw. Or the new MS192 non-top handle model (I have not tried it yet). For the price of the MS441 with bar and options, you could probably get the MS361 and an MS180.

You may also want to look at the Dolmar line of saws. You could get a Dolmar 5100s and a 401 for the same purpose, and get the pair for about the same price as the Stihl 361. Both of these saws have had rave reviews. Their quality over time, new company ownership (Makita), limited local dealerships and model availablity and previous sporatic brand availability in the USA leave some questions as to their overall quality as a saw brand. But you might want to look at them just the same.

[TexasTimbers]

 I saw it at my local Stihl dealer then Joe. Bet he will let me have a copy.

Hi windthrown, welcome to the Forestry Forum. 

[SawTroll]

The 365 and MS390 are close to the same displacement and both are saws but that is about the only similarity. 

Yes, the 365 is a pro quality saw, and the MS390 a consumer one - they are not comparable at all, the Husky wins by a wide margin on all accounts.....

Stihl should have listed the MS361 as the counterpart of both the 357xp and the 365.....

Welcome to FF windthrown, nice to "see" you again!

[rahtreelimbs]

So what about the Stihl 441 with it's "new" prefiltration air intake system    Anybody got one   They any good

I have a deuce of 441's. Good running saw!!!

[Frickman]

90% of professional loggers worldwide run Stihl. Stihl must be doing something right. I've tried the MS361, nice running little saw. 18" bar is perfect. If you need a 20" bar then get a MS441 or MS460. I run an MS460 all day long sometimes and I'm just a little guy, only 5' 6" or so. I get more tired running a small saw, waiting for it to cut, than carrying around a bigger saw and getting the work done faster.

[jokers]

90% of professional loggers worldwide run Stihl.

I`d like to see you back up this statement with a credible reference, not something your Stihl dealer said. Don`t get the wrong idea either because I think that I currently have more Stihls than Huskies or Dolmars but it wasn`t that long ago that I saw with my own eyes that Stihl`s top sellers were the 017 and 029, not many pro loggers using either of those beauties.  I just hate marketing bs and Stihl IS king when it comes to marketing bs.

[jjmk98k]

 there we go.... THAT just put WAR back in this thread!

 

Yeah, hard to think Stihl has such a large stranglehold on the pro logging market.... otherwise they should be able to BUY Husqvarna!

[sawguy21]

I am not going to touch this one. No how No way

[SawTroll]

.....   I just hate marketing bs and Stihl IS king when it comes to marketing bs.

No doubt about that - they win that one by a wide margin....

[MISDH]

Great information guys!  I really appreciate all of your responses, and have learned a lot more than I ever would have thought of.  I'm leaning toward the MS361, but had a MS 260 in my hands and really liked it.  The 4,000 trees I'm cutting down are Austrian pine, average 10" dbh,  (up to 18"-22" for the big ones at the base), most are probably 14" to fell.  I'll be dropping these down "rows",  felling 3-4 at a time, cutting in 16' lengths, and triming the branches off the tops for reduction (tight working quarters).  Then I've got to pull them out to make working room for the next batch.  Once this is done, I'll be cutting 10-20 hardwood trees each year for fire wood.  The dealer says I can buy two MS290's for the price of the 361, and won't be able to tell the difference.  I've got a Dolmer dealer even closer that I'll be visiting before I make a decision. My Husky dealer is too far away, but I'm still considering them.  Thanks again everyone, this has been a great forum.

[TexasTimbers]

I get tickled when I see people get all riled up defending a huge corporation that doesn't give a bandicoot's behind if you live or die. Both companies make great saws. Some particular saws in certain classes shine and some stink.
I have Stihl and Husky and am fixing to buy a Dolmar weedeater that weighs half of my heavy Stihl and cut twice as good. Buy the tool not the brand. If someone is proclaiming one brand over another just let them run around thinking it matters. Their ignorance isn't hurting anyone but them.

[SawTroll]

The dealer says I can buy two MS290's for the price of the 361, and won't be able to tell the difference.  .....

I surely wouldn't trust that dealer - he is way off the mark......

[Ken]

Interesting topic.  For years I ran Huskys until the local Stihl dealer offered me a deal I couldn't refuse.  Ever since Stihl has certainly been my saw of choice.  The MS 361 is a solid saw that performs extremely well.  The 440 Stihl is probably the most dependable brand of saw I have ever owned.  Haven't had a chance to try out the new 441 but don't like the idea of it being quite a bit heavier than the 440 (1.5 lbs I think). 

As we do not have a lot of overly large timber to cut here in the east we only use 16" bars normally.  If you don't need a longer bar why bother  .  The saw is going to perform that much better with less teeth too push through the tree. 

Although this thread, to date,  has only discussed power saws I would like  to recommend that anybody who is thinking of a thinning saw to consider the 550 Stihl.  Bulletproof saw that is consistently more reliable than the equivalent Husky model. 

My two cents worth.