I think almost all the older saws have legitimate complaints. The main problem is parts availability. Most have an achilles heal part that is NLA
The 076 gets compared to the 066 a lot and certainly the latter is a better all around felling and bucking saw. But for milling torque is king. The handling of the saw matters a lot less. At 111cc, the 076 has a considerable long bar advantage. It’s a lot of snort on a budget.
The other saws mentioned are probably slightly more reliable, though parts hunting can be very difficult for Jreds and Dolmars. They’re also smaller displacement saws. There isn’t a perfect answer, but really cheap is good.
FWIW, when I started milling I had an older friend with a dual head 076 mill. I’ve now killed an 066 and an 880 milling and my buddy is still going strong with his dinosaurs.
I now run a 394 that I’m pretty happy with. I would recommend it as a relatively cheap, relatively modern saw that mills well. Just watch the clutch overheating.
As a parting shot, I dumped a lot of money into my 066 to keep it milling. After 15-20 logs I think I would have saved money buying a newer saw in better condition. Keep that in mind when shopping. Really cheap saws often need a lot of love. Get one you know will be reliable. The seller is almost as important as the saw.
