Big saw suggestions?

I need a big saw for large trees in my lot and future arborist drop offs of big wood. Probably going up to 4 ft in diameter red oak. I was looking at the echo CS-7310P, which is their largest current saw at 73.5cc. The largest saw I've ever used was my 55cc husky, and it generally does the job, but it doesn't like the 3' diameter tulip poplar, and red oak that I feed it periodically. Plus, the husky is heavy, leaks bar oil and needs a new fuel line that is leaking.

Anyone have any recommendations for other saws in this class of saws? Having used husky, Stihl and echo, I'm open to all three, but am leaning toward the echo for it's price point and proven technology.

Here are the three I'm thinking about:
Echo CS-7310P
Stihl MS400
Husqvarna 572xp

Any opinions on these three or suggestions for other saws in this class of saws?

 

For 36” and up I would be looking at 90cc saws

 

I got my 572xp in August 2019, Being 70 years old, I don't use it a lot, but when I need it, it starts right up and gets the job done.
I've got 4 bars for it, 32, 28, 24 and 20
It was my first Husqvarna, I liked the autotune so much I got a 550xp mk II

I guess you have to consider the dealer on a $1000.00 saw purchase.
I've got a Stihl dealer nearby that is Exceptional and a Husqvarna dealer that is Very Good.
Couple other Stihl and Husky dealers close by, but I would never make a Big purchase from them.

 

I second the idea of a 90cc+ saw for that size wood. No one ever complained of too much power. Well... maybe if they're a p*ssy.

 

A 70cc will certainly cut 4' diameter oak. In December I got a large ChipDrop where I had quite a few 4' red oak stumps to chunk up, and the only saw I had available at the time was my old Husky 61. I put a 24" bar on that and slowly chewed through all of it, but it wasn’t fast and it really worked the heck out of that poor saw. Soon after I did a full rebuild on it. For this type of work I'm also in agreement with the 90cc class advocates. If it was just the occasional 4’ oak and you expect to be cutting mostly in the 2’ range, maybe a 70cc is fine. But if you anticipate cutting a lot of big wood then you’ll need to go bigger. My $0.02

 

I have a 7310, and I like it for the occasional bigger trees I run into. The biggest hardwoods I cut here are 36-40", with the very rare outlier being bigger, but most are 24"-28" or under. For occasional use, I think you'll be fine, especially considering the extra cost for making the jump to 90cc saws.

Even on a big tree, you only need the big saw for the lower part of the trunk. So the "need" for the big saws for most non-professionals is pretty limited. Not trying to tell you you shouldn't buy one, just that you probably don't need the biggest, baddest, fire-breathing saw that a pro might find more use for.

 

I'm running a clone 372xp now with a 28" bar. It's 234$ on amazon. I really like it and if I needed a bigger saw for some reason the 395xp for $295 and even the 3120 is available. Most guys mill with those big saws but they would certainly be good buckers too. Heavy and fuel hogs is the only drawback I've found with an oversized saw.

These days I consider 70+cc saws to be just the regular size unless you're pruning fruit trees.

 

If I had much wood like that to cut, I’d want a 90cc saw.

 

Are you only considering buying a new saw? There are some pretty decent deals local to me, maybe you could find similar?

 

farminkarman has an XS ported 394 for sale for $800

 

I bet that's a stout saw.

 

They are. They don’t really care what size bar combo you put on them

 

7900. 8 more cc and half a pound lighter than the 572.

TWW suggestion of a 390 is seconded as well.

 

SELLING - XS 394xp

That absolutely gets my vote!

 

Thanks, all!

I just measured the biggest logs I have, and they are about 36" in diameter at the stump, so I think I was overstating my need to go up to four feet. These three footers are probably the largest I have on my woodlot, and hopefully if I ever need arborist drops, they will be kind enough to not include anything larger than 3 ft in diameter. I'm just too old and soft to wrestle with anything over 3' anymore.

I was thinking about getting a 90ccc range saw, but I won't ever mill with a chainsaw (again), and while it would be fun to run a big, big boy, I think I'd rather save the gas and money and stick with the 70 cc class saws.

 

Ported 43cc saw. Lol

 

Maybe you can consider one of the kit saws. I think brenndatomu built one.
From what I hear they are pretty decent. I don't personally have any experience with them.
If you are only dealing with cutting your firewood and not income requirements it could work out.

 

Id like to build one from a kit but I can't get past the chicom counterfeit part of it all. Maybe if it was a no longer made saw...maybe.

 

Find a 7900..…

 

I fully understand that for sure. They do have, I believe a couple of OEM discontinued ones.