good chains to use on 372xp

Hey guys i got my 372xp and its ready for a new chair to say the very least. I like the full chisel stihl oilmatic chains for my 454 and i wanted to run the same concept, I'm okay with changing bars not so much on changing to semi chisel, i like full chisel because it's so easy to tell when it's sharp and dull. Any ideas on better chains? I've been thinking about going to a full skip full chisel oilmatic stihl. Less teeth to sharpen and I've heard they cut faster,any truth to this? I'm not sure...my full intention is cutting firewood. No ripping milling or anything of that nature. Just firewood. Also i want a fast cut. I know how to run a saw and am not a beginner. Just curious if anyone has a better option than what I'm thinking. Thanks guys!

 

What's your current bar length/gauge?

 

I have a gaggle of 372's and I run mostly 24" Oregon Power Match bars and Stihl RS chain.

I have some 365 Specials with 20" Power Match bars and Stihl RS chain.

 

Agreed. Half skip may be ok depending on bar length.
I'm partial to LP chain. Less to drag around the bar.Less raker mass to file.

 

As long as your saw has the power to pull it, a full comp will be faster. I am pretty happy with oregon LGX.

 

Oregon LGX is Good stuff!

 

LGX all I have on my bigger saws don't have a need to try anything else.

 

20inch bar right now but soups love a28 for the big stuff and the 20inch is almost due to be replaced. I'm probably going to buy 1chain and run it till that's shot abd upgrade to a22 or 24along with the 28.

 

Thanks guys after looking into it i think I'm going to stick with the stihl. I like having my tools as similar as possible. I may try the Oregon chain.

 

I have some Oregon 3/8" LGX chains and don't have any gripes about them.

My .325's are all Stihl RS.

 

Back when we had our own logging crew my dad and I set up all the saws (2 sizes) with the same bar/chain combo. No BS and got it done. Today with our subbed out crews they come to work in dually pickups with tool boxes full of this that and the other , 10 different bar chain combos, 6 different size saws, and looking/smelling like they just got home from Kandyland ,,,,,,,, and nuttin gets done. Glad they're on production pay.

 

I've probably run more Stihl chain than any other in the last 35 years. I like Oregon now, the new stuff seems better.

 

I've been running my 372XP for a few weeks now in green red oak, maple, ash, and poplar. I run it with a large 28" bar and have tried both an Oregon 72LPX (full comp / full chisel) and 72JPX (full skip / full chisel). In the hardwood the full skip cuts faster and does not bog easily. With the full comp I have to be a little more careful and the RPMs will drop more easily. If it tells you anything, I bought two more full skip chains for it.

For 20" bar, just get the full comp chain. With 24" you can go either way.

That said, my 372XP is tuned pretty rich and probably not full on power, but I think for eastern hardwoods and a 28" bar the full skip seems to cut better overall.

As for full chisel vs. semi chisel, it's up to you. I prefer full chisel even if it means more frequent sharpenings and chain changes.

 

Stihl RS full chisel, full comp., will be the best chain for you on a 20" bar, no questions asked. A 372XP has plenty of power to pull this through the hardest of hard wood. You absolutely don't need full skip at this bar length. Stihl has harder steel that stays sharp longer than Oregon. For budget, consider Woodland Pro/Carlton, it's really good and sells at a really decent price.. FWIW, my local shop sells Stihl chain at buy 2 get one free. This winds up cheaper than Oregon and Woodland Pro, so you can tell that I run mostly Stihl chains.

 

Madsens has 2 for 1 pricing on oreoregon loops all the time. Something like $.38/dl for one chain and the 2nd is free no matter how long a loop. If you wanted to try oregon that would be where I buy it from. It will be square ground CL but you can file it round when dull.

 

my stihl dealer just assumes I want a full skip on anything 25" or above just the way it is out here, everyone runs a full skip. I opt for the semi chisel as all of the stuff i get is scrounged and in the dirt

 

Run full comp. I run semi skip and full comp on a 372 in hardwood as well. The full is faster it feels that way and I know a timer says so but its close. Only reason I have semi skip is cause a logger buddy gives me his chains when about half life is left in them. I grind them back to spec and run them till nubs.

It mostly husky/oregon chain. But honestly I can't tell much difference in brand. I have used forester, carlton, woodland pro, stihl, and husky/oregon. It all cuts and all dulls.

 

A while back I was over at Dexter's house and we were playing with assorted bigger saws.

To my surprise . . .

I had a woods ported Stihl 066 and I thought it was on the rich side at 11,500 free running. So we leaned it out in different stages eventually to 13,500 with Dexter's tach and it took the same exact time to go through the cant that it did at 11,500 free running.

The point is - that as long as you are within reason, the mixture is not so critical power wise as long as the saw is cleaning up into two stroke in the cut and four strokes when you take the pressure off the cut? At least this 066 was this way?

 

This is really good to know! Thanks!