Help me decide Stihl MS 362 or Makita 6421 or 7301

[corey006]

I have decided on a 20" bar.

Prices.

Local dealer Stihl MS 362 $695

Home Depot Makita 6421 $649

Home Depot Makita 7301 $ 699

Local Husky dealer wants $900 for Husky 562 XP so I removed it from my list.

ALL come with 20" bar.

Which one to get.

This saw will be for cutting 10 cords of firewood/year. Mostly Jackpine(Lodgepole) and Yellow Birch and some Tamarack and Spruce.


I am leaning towards the 362....just because I have a local dealer.

 

[BloodOnTheIce]

I have decided on a 20" bar.

Prices.

Local dealer Stihl MS 362 $695

Home Depot Makita 6421 $649

Home Depot Makita 7301 $ 699

Local Husky dealer wants $900 for Husky 562 XP so I removed it from my list.

ALL come with 20" bar.

Which one to get.

This saw will be for cutting 10 cords of firewood/year. Mostly Jackpine(Lodgepole) and Yellow Birch and some Tamarack and Spruce.


I am leaning towards the 362....just because I have a local dealer.

Spend money local, is my policy. All will make you a darn good saw.

 

[SawTroll]

I would likely still get the 562xp, despite the higher cost - but the 7301 looks like the best deal among the listed ones.

 

[SawTroll]

Btw, does you firewood cutting include felling and limbing the trees, or is it just about blocking delivered logs?

 

[corey006]

Btw, does you firewood cutting include felling and limbing the trees, or is it just about blocking delivered logs?

Falling, limbing, but I have a Jonsered with a 16 " bar I will also use for limbing

 

[stihl023/5]

Makita 7301 :msp_thumbup:

 

[cowroy]

I'm not sure how well it would respond to modifications, but a stock Stihl 362 is a huge turd!

 

[Andyshine77]

I'm not sure how well it would respond to modifications, but a stock Stihl 362 is a huge turd!

??? I owned a 362, no difference in power between it and a 562 that I know of, but what do I know I've only actually ran both of them.:msp_sleep:

 

[Schells]

my 562 is way better than my 361, so I would go with the 562 anyday

 

[DexterDay]

Never ran a Makita, so I can only comment on the Husq and Stihl.

The 562xp def gets the edge on the 362. Same displacement. Yes... Same running strength? Don't think so. The 362 is a nice saw. And I love my Stihl's. But I honestly was not impressed with a 362. The 361 is prob the best variation of the 36 series by Stihl (rides n Springs and runs much better). But I love my older (larger displacement cc) 036's.

562 will rev higher, faster, and feels better in my hand (personal preference)

 

[snowdingo]

You'll get much better support through the stihl dealer than Home Depot. Do you have any dolmar dealers nearby?

 

[angelo c]

The 562 is a better saw but NOT a $200 better saw.
Thats a lot of chain, fuel, PPE, oil ect....files, grinder....on an on...

 

[corey006]

You'll get much better support through the stihl dealer than Home Depot. Do you have any dolmar dealers nearby?

Nearsest Dolmar dealer/repair is 4 hours away...

As much as I like the specs on the 7301 and price without a dealer close by it doesn't make sense to me.

I am thinking I will get the 362 unless you guys talk me out of it.

 

[7sleeper]

Get the 7301, the others are not even comming close! In the long run you will have much more!

No idea how mechanicly inclined you are, but saws are not excatly rocket science! More like club.2.

7

 

[apn73]

I would likely still get the 562xp, despite the higher cost - but the 7301 looks like the best deal among the listed ones.

I believe the 562XP has list price of approximately US$740. It may own the 60cc class currently, but it's not worth spending an extra $160 over list price, that's ridiculous and that dealer should tarred and feathered for trying to do that. I that you are all about Husqy's their Troll, but they're just not that good to be paying that much over and above list price. No wonder Stihl outsells them.

 

[holeycow]

Huskys cost a lot more than Stihls in Canada.

Buy the 362. I have one and it is a great saw. Mine has an 18" bar and can accelerate in the wood while buried. Good enough power, I'd say. Some of these guys are FOS. I can barely take the propoganda on here. Thats why I joined, participated for a while, and left. I come back just now, and its the same crap.

The PROFESSIONAL saw hands I work with love the MS362 and most are slowly moving away from Husky due to reliability issues. Hows that for some propoganda? Over and out.

Just buy the 362. The Husky is not a 25% better saw, not by a long shot, especially as there are blown-up ones all over the place.

Husky in Canada needs to smarten up, or they will continue to lose market share. There was a time when it was all-Husky-all-the-time in my workplace. No more.

 

[apn73]

Huskys cost a lot more than Stihls in Canada.

Buy the 362. I have one and it is a great saw. Mine has an 18" bar and can accelerate in the wood while buried. Good enough power, I'd say. Some of these guys are FOS. I can barely take the propoganda on here. Thats why I joined, participated for a while, and left. I come back just now, and its the same crap.

The PROFESSIONAL saw hands I work with love the MS362 and most are slowly moving away from Husky due to reliability issues. Hows that for some propoganda? Over and out.

Just buy the 362. The Husky is not a 25% better saw, not by a long shot, especially as there are blown-up ones all over the place.

Husky in Canada needs to smarten up, or they will continue to lose market share. There was a time when it was all-Husky-all-the-time in my workplace. No more.

I work with a guy that does some pro forestry on the side and he has said similar things about reliability and durability

 

[RiverRocket]

Husqvarna 562XP 60cc Professional Chainsaw w /20" Bar & Chain Included


One-day shipping available
Time left:15d 23h left6/10, 9AM
$685.99
or Best Offer
Free shipping

 

[apn73]

Husqvarna 562XP 60cc Professional Chainsaw w /20" Bar & Chain Included


One-day shipping available
Time left:15d 23h left6/10, 9AM
$685.99
or Best Offer
Free shipping

Free shipping to where? The next zip code over?

 

[moody]

I believe the 562XP has list price of approximately US$740. It may own the 60cc class currently, but it's not worth spending an extra $160 over list price, that's ridiculous and that dealer should tarred and feathered for trying to do that. I that you are all about Husqy's their Troll, but they're just not that good to be paying that much over and above list price. No wonder Stihl outsells them.

He's in Canada the prices are way higher there. That price he gave was pretty reasonable for what folks say.