Last year I used up the last of a roll of 15+yo Oregon LP 3/8 0.050. I bought four pre made loops of Oregon LPX in the same size this year from the local saw shop. After running a new loop for 15 minutes I would have to tighten the chain. That's not unexpected though I am used to doing that at the first fill up. I have to tighten the chain at least two more times. Two of the chains came off when cutting. Very frustrating. Is this what modern chain is like? For background, I'm running 28" full comp and a mix of cutting up the smaller branches and big rounds of oak. The chain was definitely getting warm in the oak. And yes, the oiler works great. The oil tank is almost empty at every fill up and I get a nice spay pattern when I hold bar over concrete.
I always use caution re-tensioning warm chains. Constant readjustment of warm chains will stretch them in short order. As a chain heats up, the metal expands, and you'll end up with a sloppier chain than you had when it was cold. As it sits, the slop should go away. If it doesn't, the chain definitely stretched. But from your description of it throwing the chain, it sounds like it's stretching more than it's just getting sloppy from the heat. I haven't noticed new Oregon chains stretching any more than old stock (and I do have a few of those kicking around)
3/8 .050 cull chis Oregon they seem to stretch a lot when new I am comparing to laser and Carlton And when I talk about stretch I am talking within 5 minutes of running I also threw a couple new chains
Have you switched bar oil? I use the thickest/tackiest stuff I can find. If it sprays off the tip, it isn't making it to where it is needed. But yes, I have noticed that it wears much faster than the old stuff. I try to stick with stihl chain, but it can be difficult to source depending on location. I have a bunch of husqvarna x cut right now that seems to be doing pretty good in oak and hard maple.
I spent a bit of time this morning dressing up the drive links that got nicked on the two chains that derailed. Only a couple needed working to glide smoothly in the older Oregon bar I had sitting on my bench. Unfortunately, many drivers wouldn't go in the slot of the Tsumura bar I am currently running. This meant I had to go back to the barn and start all over dressing the drivers for the Tsumura bar. It was noon before I was ready to go out to cut. Learn something new every day. I was running one of the chains that derailed yesterday and it seems to settle in and stop stretching. After several hours of cutting it is about the same tension as it was when I put it on. I'm going to have to pay better attention when running new chains going forward.
I have been running Husky bar oil. I used up the last of it and the next gallon is from the hardware store, not sure the brand. I'll have to try Stihl chain if my local dealer stocks it. They always only carried Oregon due to the price but I'll ask.
I don’t believe Oregon is a bad chain as with all new chains they have to be tightened as they stretch. I just keep an eye on them after a couple cuts if I see the chain has slack I stop and snug it up
I run mostly Stihl chain and notice stretching when they are new. Ill retension when cold. Noodling seems to stretch them more IME. Yes, throwing a chain and nicking the drive links is very aggravating. I've had "dress" the drive links that get dinged. PITA and very tedious.
Have had a couple in the past that got more loose than I normally expect. No blatant or current issues but don't have much of the LPX yet. Been scavenging the LPG that's still floating around out there.
I like to take thrown chains to the belt grinder. It makes quick work of them if you are careful. That or the side of a dremel cutoff wheel. Can't remember the last time I threw a chain, but I fix some for other folks....
