I selected a Stihl 462c-m. I’ve had a Husqvarna 261 for 20 years. I’m looking hard at a Stihl 261c-m to round it all out.
Been running a stock 261 for over two months and loving it. Wears a 20" bar to lesson bending fatigue. Ive bucked 18" red oak without issue. Lightweight saw easy to carry if working in the woods for extended periods.
Finally decided on saw selection and wife and kids got me the Husqvarna 550 Mark II for Christmas. Man what a saw! For sure doesn’t have the dig in power of the 70c 372 I already own, but lighting fast chain speed and very light weight makes for easy handling and cutting. Bucked up a 20” oak with it yesterday in no time flat. Currently running an 18” bar on her and like that size for the power this saw makes. The xcut chain that came on the bar cuts exceptionally well also, anyone else running those chains? It seems better than the Oregon ones I am used to spinning.
I just got a Husqvarna 562xp . Ran a husqvarna 261 for years now.. Don't think I will be running the 261 very much anymore just keep for a back up. That 562 is just perfect plenty of power right out of the box. As much as I would love to hop it up I don't believe it really needs it. Cutting 10 to 15 cord of firewood for myself and parent's a year this thing is perfect. I am kind of in the same boat have a husqvarna 575xp that mowes through anything for me but it does get heavy. I was very tempted to get the 550xp sure it will be awsome.. Good luck with it.
They’ve worked a lot of the bugs out of the 562 over the years. They were all decent but if you got a late model one it should have all the latest updates & should be a terrific saw. I really like the 562s.
Congrats on the 562! If I had but one saw, I think that’s the one that would cover all me needs. And I agree, out of the box it’s great. I had extra sausage added to mine last year and it’s a lazer. Really fun. My favorite all stock saws are the 550’s.
I have a 550 mk2 . I had a first series 550 which was ported by Randy @ Mastermind. I mafe the mistake of lending it to a logger friemd of mine he liked it so much he told me i couldn’t have it back. So he got me another one which turned out to be the mk2 series. I haven’t run it enough yet to see if i’ll like it as much as the first one. Time will tell.
Well, I found this thread too late to offer any advice, but I think that your Family picked the Right saw for you. IMO, the 562 and 372 are too close in specs, the 550 was a better middle pick IMO. I have the 550XP OE, and Love it, I have had a 266XP since '91, and felt it was a Great all around saw, but I kept hearing guys talking about the 50cc saws and bought a Nice 353, and I couldn't believe how often I grabbed it instead of my "Old Reliable" 266XP, then hearing all the Clamour about the 550XP, I got one and I go back and forth between the the 353 and 550. Over on the AS forum, Skeans has been Really Impressed with the 562XP, and being from my neck of the woods, his experience with them is indicative of what mine likely would be, so I pay attention to what he says. I really want a 562, and plan on getting one eventually, but a 372 XP would be a better fit for my Collection, er, uhm,Addiction. There is an AS member from Malaysia, Robin Wood, that not too long was able to get 372XP OE's, NIB, PHO for $780 Shipped to the US, really thinking about saving my pennies for one of those, if he can still get them when I am ready. There are some NIB 346XP's on ebay, from a Turkish seller, but between the price and shipping, they are spendier than a 372. The 346XP has a cult like following, and I would Love to have a NIB 346, but that is just a little to spendy for me Hi, I'm Doug, and I have a Problem, My Garage and Budget are TOO SMALL Doug
