What to buy? MS460 or MS660?

[stihl034]

I have an old 034av super with a 25" bar and i love that saw but I run into a lot of situations where I need a bigger saw. I don't know if i like the heft of the 660 but I'm worried that the 460 may not be enough. I don't cut wood professionally but I cut wood most days off work so it will get regular use is the 460 enough?

 

[Jumbo Jimbo]

Go for the 660.

 

[sawfun9]

How big a bar do you need?

With a 25" the 460 is the better of the two in my opinion. I've used both and the 660 really only shines with the bigger bars or if stumping a lot. I used to use my 066 with a 25" bar, then I got a 460 with a 28" and it's faster and easier on me.

A 460 will run a 28" bar very well and a 32 ok in softwood.

The 660 is better with a 32" and is the only real choice of the two with a 36" bar.

 

[lmbrman]

461 monkeyed uttahere2:

 

[rdtreewalker]

460

 

[WidowMaker1]

660! No flippys ....yes i do know how a flippy should work, just not a flippy fan.

 

[Mike-B]

Get an MS 460/461. Great saws.

 

[Tree Sling'r]

Can't go wrong with either, although with very large being harder to find the 460/461 would be a better choice if it were me. Besides slight mods to the saw would make productive gains for those bigger cuts.
Where in Nor CA are you from?

 

[stihl034]

I'm in Georgetown. In the Sierra's its prime logging country. big saw are easy to find up here.

 

[H 2 H]

Welcome to the Jungle

 

[Officer's Match]

Yes indeed, welcome. Intended use (typical type and size of wood) would make suggestions more useful.

 

[saw dog]

Go for the 460R, you can run a 36 in. bar on them when needed do to the fact they will oil the long bars and clear the chips do to the high output oiler and the over sized clutch cover. We use them in large oak timber with 36 in. bars when needed with great results. I have 046s that we have used 36 in. bars on for years with no adverse effects to the saw. The secret is sharp chains and the ability to supply enough oil to the bar and chain and clearing the cut of chips.

 

[Alex D]

Go for the 460R, you can run a 36 in. bar on them when needed do to the fact they will oil the long bars and clear the chips do to the high output oiler and the over sized clutch cover. We use them in large oak timber with 36 in. bars when needed with great results. I have 046s that we have used 36 in. bars on for years with no adverse effects to the saw. The secret is sharp chains and the ability to supply enough oil to the bar and chain and clearing the cut of chips.

Now no doubt a sharp chain is the most important as a dull chain makes cutting even with 088s and 090s a nightmare. It is by far the most important "mod" you can do to the saw and oil to as thats what keeps it lubricated and allows it to stay sharp longer. But still wouldn't a 660R with a 36" bar be better suited to large oak?? One is that its oiler probably puts out even more and secondly in timber of that size 20% more power with a bt more weight is definately worth it. The 660 even balances better with long bars than the 440/460.

 

[mdavlee]

28"> bar for 460
32"< bar for 660

 

[homelitejim]

What if you get the 460 and decide it isn't enough saw? Best to spend the extra hundred or so on the 660 and know for sure you will always have enough saw. Too bad they don't make the 064 any more, best of both worlds.

 

[fatboymoe]

I was in the same boat 18 months ago. I decided on a brand new Snellerized 460. It wears a 25" B&C. I have a 32" B&C just in case I need something bigger, but its still unused. I am really happy with the decision and would do it again if I had to. I use my smaller saws 90% of the time, but a good, modded 460 will put a real smile on your face when you need it.

 

[Freakingstang]

I like my 660...

with that said, I use my 7900 with a 25" most of the time.. 7900 is a little quicker out of the box than the 460, but both are really good saws.

 

[goincrazyinvt]

I've been using a 660 with a 25" bar on it for the last two weeks just to buck logs. I almost went with a 460, but as someone already stated, why not spend the little extra and know you always have enough? Plus it makes me happy when I'm cutting circles around my friend who's running a 385xp with a 20" bar :msp_thumbsup:

 

[deye223]

opcorn:

 

[Anthony_Va.]

Unless you cut 30" timber or bigger most of the time, then you may need a 660. If not then a 460 will be more saw than you'll ever need. I use a 70cc saw (ported 372xpw) for all of my timber falling. I regularly cut trees that are 30" or more with no problems. Even before it was ported. I had a 660 and just never used it. I traded it for another 70cc saw.

It just takes ALOT of big timber to justify the added weight of a 660 IMO. Run one all day and the weight really wears on you. You'll be surprised at how well a 460 can pull a 28" full comp bar and chain in hardwood.

Have you checked out the 461? Most are saying it feels more powerful than the 460. Thats what I'd be buying if I needed another felling saw right now.