I’ve always considered 60-80 cubic centimeters as the “mid size” of saws. Of them, my favorite of all time is the 372XP. Any of the three versions. The OE was lighter but the low end wasn’t as good. The one with the cut off saw jug met the “there’s no replacement for displacement” category and the X-Torque version had the best power band, and it’s not much heavier than the OE.
They all feel pretty much the same in my hands, and they all feel really good in my hands. The rear handle might be a problem for the soft-handed and no gloves crowd, but I wrap my ugly pieces of meat attached to my wrist in gloves and that takes the abuse of those hard corners. Great air filters, and they’re very smooth with stiff enough springs where they don’t hit the stops with a long bar on. Oh, and did I mention the Husqvarna front handles actually align with your wrist in its relaxed position?
The MS 461 is a very strong contender, as is the MS 441C-M. But there’s something about the combination of ergos and power with a 372 that just makes it feel so much quicker when I flick one around in the brush.
