STIHL MS460, MS461? I have the oportunity to buy both new! I need help deciding!

Arborist Forum

Help Support Arborist Forum:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.

chhonos

ArboristSite Lurker
Joined
Sep 28, 2011
Messages
47
Reaction score
1
Location
Montreal
Hey everyone, so I am new to this forum. I have checked out several threads on the subject of MS 461 vs the older MS460, but I am still undecided.
I previously owned an MS361, but found it lacked power for some bigger jobs. I called my local dealer here in Canada, and he had an MS460 priced at $950 plus tax, an MS461 priced the same ($950).
So far, I have ruled out the MS441 as it is only slightly cheaper and has less power at the same weight etc....
My biggest issue is deciding between the older MS460 and the newer MS461. From what I have read, there are minor improvements on the newer MS461, although I have also heard that people will pay an arm and a leg to get their hands on an older 460.
Basically what I want to know is which of the two is more reliable? What would be the pros and cons of each saw?
Thanks guys, and I hope you can help.
I could also get a MS660, but they are a bit more...($1150) here.
 
A 660 is quite a bit heavier than the 460. At the end of the day it will wear you out. I would probably go with the new 461 sips less fuel.
 
Yeah, thats what I heard...that the 660 is quite heavy. Although I haven't actually held one yet so I can't rule it out just yet :)
Just thought of something else! Why is it now just the MS461, and not the MS461 Magnum???
When you look at the website, it used to say MS441 Magnum, MS460 Magnum, MS660 Magnum etc...
They seem to have dropped the "Magnum" status on the MS461....
Thoughts?
 
Yeah, thats what I heard...that the 660 is quite heavy. Although I haven't actually held one yet so I can't rule it out just yet :)
Just thought of something else! Why is it now just the MS461, and not the MS461 Magnum???
When you look at the website, it used to say MS441 Magnum, MS460 Magnum, MS660 Magnum etc...
They seem to have dropped the "Magnum" status on the MS461....
Thoughts?

just a sticker
 
Also, why are some people set on getting a 460 if they can get their hands on one?....if they can just get a 461? Are there any pros to getting the 460 over the 461? Like I said, most people are going with the 461, but some seem to be wanting the 460!
 
Also, why are some people set on getting a 460 if they can get their hands on one?....if they can just get a 461? Are there any pros to getting the 460 over the 461? Like I said, most people are going with the 461, but some seem to be wanting the 460!

I guess from a logger's prospective if he has a 1/2 dozen or so 460s laying around for parts I could see why he would choose one over a 461. I can't comment much on a stock 461, I only ran 1 tank through mine before sending it to be ported. On the first tank my dad's good running stock 046 would have beat it by a small margin I think.
 
Yeah, just a sticker...but it was a marketing strategy. They had everything above the 441 as a "Magnum" saw. Now they remove the "Magnum" status from the MS461? It seems that maybe they are going to remove it from the 441 as well, and just have the 660 or 661 if it ever comes lol, as magnum saws along with the 880? Think about it from a marketing standpoint...look at their website, the 461 is a saw that now lies between two magnums. Its not like it costs STIHL anything for the stickers... They must be removing the "magnum" status from their 400 line saws, (441 as well). Why else wouldn't they label the 461 as a magnum saw!
 
Also, why are some people set on getting a 460 if they can get their hands on one?....if they can just get a 461? Are there any pros to getting the 460 over the 461? Like I said, most people are going with the 461, but some seem to be wanting the 460!

who are these people you speak of?

no reason to get the 460 over the 461 unless its heavily discounted.

also over 75% of the parts interchange between the 2 saws.
 
Yeah, just a sticker...but it was a marketing strategy. They had everything above the 441 as a "Magnum" saw. Now they remove the "Magnum" status from the MS461? It seems that maybe they are going to remove it from the 441 as well, and just have the 660 or 661 if it ever comes lol, as magnum saws along with the 880? Think about it from a marketing standpoint...look at their website, the 461 is a saw that now lies between two magnums. Its not like it costs STIHL anything for the stickers... They must be removing the "magnum" status from their 400 line saws, (441 as well). Why else wouldn't they label the 461 as a magnum saw!

dude its just a sticker. they just didnt feel like slapping it on the north american sold saws. the same saw sold in aus has the sticker. if your that hard up on the badging just buy it and put it on your self.
 
Last edited:
Haha dude, the sticker has Nothing to do with it....that comes off often anyways....
I was merely curious as to their marketing strategy that they had going with their "magnums" and I noticed on the website that they didn't list it as a "magnum" saw. This lead me to believe that they are starting to discontinue their whole magnum ordeal. Although if you mention....they listed it as a magnum saw in other countries....curious.
 
Well I guess I would have to say max torque. Speed....well nice, but I would think torque is more important on a jobsite, to me anyways...
 
Well I guess I would have to say max torque. Speed....well nice, but I would think torque is more important on a jobsite, to me anyways...

Then you definitely want the 461. Where the 460 has great torque, the 461 has phenomenal torque. It also has a super broad, user friendly torque curve. Its not slow my any means either, although the 460 would have an edge in that regards.
 
If you know how to run a 441 it'll cut close to a 460 in 24" wood, but if you lean on the 441 a little too hard, or cut anything much over 24" the 460 will handle things much better. I won't forget to mention the 441 is "A LOT" smoother, which is becoming a must for myself, and I'm sure many others.
 
Last edited:
Back
Top