New chainsaw to replace Stihl 08s

[Jaxih]

We own a Stihl 08s(21 inch bar) which my father bought over 45 years ago. It's running perfectly, very reliable, starting easily, and has decent torque but the vibrations and weight are a killer for extended use on our farm.
We don't cut timber for a living, only cut trees for firewood which have fallen due to storms, which we have a lot of in recent years.
We have a mixture of hard/softwood. I plan to run a full chisel chain on the new saw.
 

The 08s is a 56cc saw, the powerhead weighs 8.4kg dry.
I'd like a professional saw with a 20 inch bar, with more torque/RPM compared to our 08s, for faster cutting.
I might also buy a 25 inch bar for occasional use on larger trunks, and reduce lower back strain. I would like to stick with Stihl.
Note: we also own a Stihl MS231 for cleaning and cutting small branches

Here are my current candidates;

1. Stihl MS362 c-m (59cc, 5.6 kg, 4.8hp) €990 / £823

2. Stihl MS400 c-m (67cc, 5.8 kg, 5.4hp) €1160 / £965
3. Stihl MS462 c-m (72cc, 6 kg, 6hp) €1295 / £1075

My dad is siding with the MS362 because it's the cheapest of the 3, but i'm siding with the 400/462 for the extra power/torque.

If you had to choose between those 3, which and why?

[Stubby]

MS 400 because of the great reviews , this from a Husqvarna man .

[Muddy42]

If you are getting one saw I would go for the MS400, its amazing

 

BUT you mention storm damage (where branches are often tangled or up in the air) wanting to reduce weight and vibrations.  You can probably get a vehicle close.  Your cutting sounds very similar to me. This is classic territory for two saws - a small one for cutting out brash and smaller stuff, then swap to the big saw to log the trunk.  At this stage access has been improved, you can use the big saw close to your body and the weight matters less. Keep the 08 for this.  I always say that everyone should have a 50-ish cc saw like the MS261 and saw a say a 14/16 inch bar.  Light as a feather (4.9kg), so you can use it all day and punches way above its weight in terms of power.

[Brushcutter]

12 hours ago, Stubby said:

MS 400 because of the great reviews , this from a Husqvarna man .

This. Love the ms400 be interesting to try the ms400.1 

 

You don't feel the weight of it but the power is amazing. I've tried 18 and 20 on it but I'm sure you could put a 25 on it and it would do the job.

[Sviatoslav Tulin]

I have all of those,  get 462 I still think it is most versatile Stihl chainsaw, this is from Husqvarna 572 fan!

[Rich Rule]

400.

[kram]

500i? This is all my mate uses when his MS151 is too small.

[Peter 1955]

On 05/02/2025 at 09:36, Muddy42 said:

If you are getting one saw I would go for the MS400, its amazing

 

BUT you mention storm damage (where branches are often tangled or up in the air) wanting to reduce weight and vibrations.  You can probably get a vehicle close.  Your cutting sounds very similar to me. This is classic territory for two saws - a small one for cutting out brash and smaller stuff, then swap to the big saw to log the trunk.  At this stage access has been improved, you can use the big saw close to your body and the weight matters less. Keep the 08 for this.  I always say that everyone should have a 50-ish cc saw like the MS261 and saw a say a 14/16 inch bar.  Light as a feather (4.9kg), so you can use it all day and punches way above its weight in terms of power.

One saw only, 400, yes absolutely. Lovely saw, light and powerful. 

But: if you're going to have two saws as suggested above, it's got to be a 462 to accompany the 261. 

[doobin]

18 hours ago, Peter 1955 said:

One saw only, 400, yes absolutely. Lovely saw, light and powerful. 

But: if you're going to have two saws as suggested above, it's got to be a 462 to accompany the 261. 

That's what I tend to use daily on felling work. Covers all the bases for most small forestry jobs.

 

 I do have an MS241 but using it today after using the MS261 yesterday it just seems so tiddly- weight is nice though. Both my MS241s have been unreliable pups even with very low hours, so possibly just as well Stihl discontinued them.

 

Wouldn't mind trying the echo version- think its a CS4310? 2.3kw and 4.3kg from memory.