i used to be fond of saying that the perfect 2 saws to carry to the woods would be a 346 and a 7900. that was based on what i read of the 346 and the fact that i own a MM026 and have run a 5100. now that i own a 346 i know that this is correct. the stock 346 is a close handling equivalent of the 026 (a little heavier, but with a more solid feel) and power equivalent of the 5100. and while the 361 is a very nice handling saw, it is more bulky and not as nimble as the 346. the 346 revs faster and is more "zingy" than a 361. with a 20" bar buried in oak, the 361 might be a little faster. but a MM346 is just so easy in the hands, and if i'm cutting 20" oak, the 7900 is already my choice. now, if you MM the 361, the power argument changes, but the weight and handling factors haven't. and stock, the power difference is .7hp bw the 346 and 361. add a MM non-cat muffler to the 346 and the difference disappears.