Need a bigger saw....

Iustinian

The company I work for does an even mix of land clearing and residential work -- (and we bring down and buck some big stuff) that being said, the MS 460 Magnum (w/ a 25" bar) is our best all-around saw; however, our mechanic is a certified Stihl mechanic and ports them all, so they compete very well with a stock 660 -- even the stock 460's are your best bet.

Also important to consider is the size and type of chain that your running -- we use the 3/8, 50 gauge chain. Skip tooth cuts really fast, but only worth using on a land clearing project with no nails in the wood - it gets screwed up easily. Once you get into the biggest bars on the 880's, you're going to need to run the 404 chain or it will get thrown off the bar.

Personally, I'd never get rid of the 361 - that saw has paid for most of the equipment which I have today, plus: Stihl changed the design of the 361's to a 362, so the engine design today winds up being like the 441. Those 361's (used) on E-bay bring the same money as if they were new; plus of all the Stihl's, 361's seem to respond the best to porting.

Although I feel that your money would be better spent on a 460, I am impressed by the 441's air filter design - which is borrowed from the cut-off/concrete Stihls. Even after 3 months of everday hard use, I've seen 441's with air filters that were spotless; it's a pretty ingeniuous design which I hope soon gets incorporated into the other models.

Hope someone out there enjoys this information....