Fhc thoughts and feelings on stihl ms 461

A good friend of mine is gona purchase his first real chainsaw here soon. He just bought a house with a 24x36 shop and both have woodstoves. His old 031 stihl is almost dead. I told him to buy a 7910 or a 372, but he is a rock solid stihl guy. Are the 461 s having the bottom end troubles that some have experienced with the 661?

 

My MS461 is rock solid. The word on the street is it's about the best and most reliable Stihl out there. If I had to have only one, it would be easy to choose my MS361. It really is plenty of saw for just about anything and is much easier to sling around than the 461.

 

I told him the 461 or 7910 is alot of saw. He also has to help his fil get about 4 cords a year. Im gona try to talk him into a 60cc pro saw they are great firewood saws and dont wear a man out near as fast as a 78 cc chainsaw. Its mostly softwoods here anyway and a good running 60cc will run a 24 inch bar very nicely.

 

I've only had limited time on a 461, but if I were to need to buy a new Stihl it would be a 461, especially if I were given the choice between a 461 or 661. I preferred cutting with the 461. The over 32" wood is where the 661 shines over the 461.


Myself owning a 7910 though, if someone were to give me a 461 along with cash, I still wouldn't get rid of my 7910.

 

I strongly recomend 661 dont make mistake and buy something else , then a 300 euros bar and a 200 euros chain

4 cords a year its not fun , you need special equipment there

 

I kinda want a 461 for myself i looked at one at the saw shop and they are a nice looking saw. My buddy has to cut about 10 cord a year to feed those stoves, he will be in the shop alot this winter. Big saw means cutting bigger trees =the truck getting filled quicker. That is if a man can keep up the pace.

 

461 is a lot of saw. Does it still have the old rubber AV system?

 

Big trees means harder moving , harder splitting,

 

The 461 does in fact have rubber AV mounts, but the saw is quite smooth anyway.

 

Ive already trained my friend on noodle the tough splitting stuff. You are however correct that bigger trees are almost always more work. Im in my late forties and really dont want to cut any trees that cant be handled by a 24 inch bar

 

LOL you and me are in the same boat. If I need more then my 20-24" bar I really don't want to mess with it. Although the sound of a 4' cottonwood hitting the ground is pretty awesome but even those I use my 60cc saw with 24" bar unless I want to stretch the legs of the ol' 056 lol it sounds cool as well.

 

I much prefer a 70cc, and I cut mostly Douglas Fir. Also, noodling with a 60cc would really suck. I cut up a 25" Fir a while back and a 60cc saw would've made a lot more work for me, especially since I had to split (noodle) all those rounds before loading it. I would recommend that he get the 461, 7910, or 372... I don't think he'd be disappointed with any of them.

 

I have a 461,I've owned it for a couple years now and its never given me any problems.Cuts great,more then enough saw for anything I cut.I have the R model and the only negative is that it can get hard on the back after cutting for awhile as its not a small saw.

 

Your 365 special you are selling is a hell of a saw Clint, especially if someone were to get it ported.

I've had three 372's over the past year hoping to like them but I'd keep grabbing my 365special

 

I bit the bullet and bought a ms461 a few months ago.... I figured I am 30 years old, and run into bigger timber enough that I can justify the cost..... Every time I use it I smile!!!...I bought the saw with a 25" bar for $1000 out the door.... I have actually been putting the 20" bar on her sometimes..... It cuts very well with in a 20" hickory log.... I also have a ms362 that I rebuilt that I use most of the time, but when I get into the hardwood that is 20" or bigger I reach for the 461....

I guess I would say if your buddy is cutting softwood up to 24" I would just get the ms362 or whatever husky is the same size.....I know when I cut maple with my 362 it flys threw with the bar buried.... In softwood I know for a fact the 362 could wear a 24" bar....

Also I have heard people say the AV on are a little rough, but to me personally I think the 461 is very smooth!!!!

 

Yikes! I paid $1050 for my 661 w/ 20" bar and a 6 pack of oil - which I now understand to be a really good deal... But the OP might want to shop around local dealers a bit. I drive past 3-4 of them (all tractor dealers that carry Stihl) to get to the "Woodcutter's HQ". Great guy and cool biz - he specializes in chainsaws and deals Stihl, Husqvarna, Oregon, and Husky splitters. Kid in a candy store in that place.

 

Well I think it was less, I got it for whatever the 441 cost.... They weren't stocking them at the time so they sold me the 461 for the 441 price.... I got the 6 pack of oil 25" and chain and 2-year warranty....

It sounds like you did get a good deal....how do you like your 661???

 

I like it a lot - it feels lighter to me than a 660. I mostly mill lumber with it, and you really start to appreciate the spring AV after a day of that.

I don't use it much for firewood - It would be overkill for most of the stuff I run into, and I mill the big stuff anyway. I think 70cc range is plenty for firewood duty.

 

If it were me I would encourage him to get the 461 especially if that's what he wants.

From my personal shopping experience the competition all costs the same+-40$ , buying something with good resale(stihl) and dealer support would be more important to me.