Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Husqvarna 562XP?

Stihl MS 362, pro model, 20 inch bar, 3/8 chain, available at any farm/ranch store or farmers co-op, WAY cheaper than the Husky, 60 cc, will cut ten to twenty cord of wood for more years than you will want to.

Stihl MS 311, farm/ranch model, 20 inch bar, 3/8 chain, 59 cc, available anywhere, even cheaper than the pro model, heavier than pro model, less horsepower than pro model.

I have the 310, predecessor to the 311. Never a hiccup in 16 yrs. Just upgraded it to a 24 inch bar. But if I were to work with anything bigger than 14 inch loggs, I'd run full skip chain. I used half skip on the 20 inch bar. Can not buy anything but Stihl chain around here anymore.

Just some alternatives. Good luck on your purchase, which ever you choose.

The Husky 562 is a bad ass saw. The rancher series can't even compare.

If you have to run skip or half skip on 14" wood your saw is grossly underpowered. A 562 will pull full comp 20" bar all day long, even in hard maple and oak, let alone the gopher wood we have here in MT.

Okay, I am refering to my farm/ranch saw. And yes, it is a little under powered when burying the bar in a thirty inch maple with regular chain. With full skip, it hums right along and does anything i ask it to, albeit not as fast as a pro saw.

But I am not a pro, I do not have pro needs, and I really don't move all that fast anymore, myself.

For those with need for a more pwerful saw, I mentioned the model MS362.

The 562XP will be lighter, more powerful, and more money.

My dad's 455 Rancher has been dead nuts reliable, starts hot or cold, idles hot or cold, has spent it's entire life bouncing around in his 1952 jeep at 9200ft altitude--which often weeds out the crappy saws.

For 50cc or 70cc saws, the 550XP or 372XP, for 60cc saw, the MS362.

The 60cc and 70cc saws are a lot of chainsaw. Really more for if you're going to be doing a lot of cutting. Although those stringy azz cottonwoods can be tough cutting..........

The 50cc saws are a lot easier on the back.

Go with the best dealer, that's more important than the Husky vs Stihl argument.

Stihl ms362, 13.2 lb and 4.69 hp
Husky 562xp 13.9 lb and 4.7 hp

Just factory specs from a web page. I do not know how torque and power curves compare. The Husky may well outcut the Stihl. Perhaps someone has run them both and can tell us.

The 562 is just an "angry" saw. When I logged I ran Stihl ms 440's and Husky 372's. Honestly unless the wood is real big a 562 will cut right with them. When I had my 562 I took down a 40" red oak with it using a 24" bar with full compliment chain.

You don't hang around AS as much either I see.

Take care.

Not for some time.

Not since the Great Unpleasantness

Thank you all for the good advice. It appears the 562xp is more saw than I want or need and the 550xp would be about perfect.

Let the chips fall where they may Sam. (little joke)

I was making saw dust yesterday Richard!

Cutting old corral rails and hit a nail, went from chips to dust in about 1 second.

Needless to say the chain has seen better days.

Off on table saws, Sam, the good blades are not so good after someone hits steel ripping a 2x12. Good luck with what ever you buy Sam.

I've had a 460 Rancher for a few years now. 24" bar. Solid, reliable saw that does anything I ask of it, and then some.

$50 rebate on the 550XP until the 15th makes it less than the 460. The 460,s work great but are heavy https://www.chainsawsdirect.com/cutters/professional-gas-chainsaws.html

562XP 13.4lbs http://www.husqvarna.com/us/products/chainsaws/

MS362 Flush Cut Handle 12.35 lbs, Wrap Handle 13.2 lbs.

https://jaxranchandhomeloveland.sti...LAwKHh-x5zrMb_744N4-db-ySvhoCBhEQAvD_BwE

Sorry, the Stihl is a stupidly long address........

Another option are the Husky "Robust" saws--halfway between a Landowner and Pro saw......kind of a "semipro" saw.....

I would still recommend the 455 Rancher or 550XP.

Unless you need something light, you will never have more saw than you need. Weight is the only reason to buy smaller. And $$$.
I love running saws, it's in my blood, running a good saw is like holding a high dollar shotgun, and enjoying the skill it took to make it.

Sam, check the Stihl web page. They make some carbide chain which will stand up a bit better to the occasional contact with nails or rocks.

It takes diamond to sharpen it when it does get dull is a bit of a caveat.