To me, the #1 consideration with chainsaws is power to weight ratio. Since most of us don’t need a giant western-style felling saw, the key to me was to find the sweet spot with the amount of power for the given weight. When I bought last year I wanted a powerhead under 10.5 pounds, because that makes for a 12-12.5 pound saw with cutting gear and fluids.
For general purpose saws, I like something that will comfortably drive an 18-inch bar between 45 and 55 CC. I almost never use the full length of the bar, the main reason for an 18 is that it requires less bending over to cut brush off down low and to limb off trees after felling. To me this is key for both general purpose and habitat work.
Don’t judge a saw just by CCs. There are 45-50 CC saws that outperform larger CC units because of torque and RPMs. Look at the complete specs, not just the CC ratings. A lot of pro-grade saws run at higher RPMs and have more torque, not more CCs.
A couple of more things to mention. Chainsaws no longer have user adjustable carbs. They EPA made the makers put “anti-tamper” jet adjustment screws in them starting about 7-8 years ago. Stihl took it 1 step fruther and patented their adjustment tool and AFAIK it is still only available to dealers. All other major makes have allowed generic too makers to produce adjustment tools. IMO this is a big problem because I use saws hard and I want to be able to maintain my own gear, not be reliant on a dealer.
I bought a Husqvarna 445 last February and I find this size/HP/weight of saw to be ideal for general purpose habitat work. Plenty of power, under 12 pounds wet and with 18 inch bar/chain. I’d say look at the Stihls with similar size/weight characteristics.
BTW, the older I get, the more I’m a fan of good safety equipment and safe techniques. Be VERY careful to examine every tree you cut for dead wood up high in the tree. When cutting any trees that are dead up high, EXTREME care has to be taken not to dislodge a branch or have the tree break in half when it starts to fall, striking you before you can get away. People tend to be rightly wary of the chainsaw itself, but I know more people who hurt themselves or bystanders with falling objects rather than the saw itself. They don’t call these branches “widowmakers” for nothing.
Grouse
