After many hours of research,I'm getting a.....

MS362.After cutting 10 cords of red oak in Feb. with my trusty wild thing, I decided it's time to upgrade.Started off torn between the ms290/455 rancher. A month later of stihl, husky, dolmar, makita, echo, new, used, ebay, craigslist, homeowner, pro.I finally swallowed the price hike for a pro saw. So, that brought me to the 362. Should last me a lifetime and be worth the investment. I don't really need a pro saw, but I want to be impressed with my new toy. Found the 362-20" at local dealer, will be on sale in a couple of weeks for $604.There, now it's semi-offical and I can ponder something else for a change Searching this forum and arboistsite has been a great resource, thanks to all of you for sharing your experience.

Enjoy your new lightsabre! We want shiny new saw pics of course

Or it didn't happenI've been lurking for awhile and caught on to some of the rules.BTW that was fast, hadn't even got my edit done!

Buy the 362 before you change your mind!

Good choice. It is a can't miss saw for making firewood.

I'd like to but waiting for the sale.

If you ask nicely they might go ahead and give you the sale price. Usually the sales are dealer-sponsored, especially if it involves high-end hardware. Only occasionally does Stihl run promo pricing and even then I've only seen it on entry-level stuff. MS170, BG55, MS290 etc...

So much for the plan. Found a ms290 and a 27 ton mtd on cragslist this morning.Saw looks new, ten face cords on it supposedly, 16" and 20" bars that look new, one new chain, five chains that look like new, two screnches, and bar cover for $200. Splitter looks 85% new-$600. I bought it all with plans to sell my old splitter for what I've got in it this fall. While not a pro saw I should be happy after using a wild thing the last 5 yrs and a 14" wood shark for 5 yrs before that. Poor folks have poor waysI'm off to play with new toys now!file://localhost/Users/apatton/Pictures/iPhoto%20Library/Originals/2012/Apr%2012,%202012/Photo%20on%202012-04-12%20at%2012.37.jpg

Don't touch that MS290! If it really looks new you can sell it for quite a bit more than you paid. Then go get your MS362.

MM said it, I'm endorsing it too!

for cutting firewood, that MS290 would be fine. But once you take a 'drive' on that MS362, you'd be hard pressed to ever want to go back to the 290 again. Sell it on eBay and buy the 362, you'll love it beyond belief!

So you can see the pic, on my end it kinda looks like a link. After watching Ebay for the last few weeks, 10yr old or newer saws sell for more that msrp. I don't get it.?

Good advise. I didn't really intend to get in the chainsaw/splitter buying/selling business, oh well.

Sometimes you just gotta roll with the flow.......

I didn't know Charlie was from my home state. 1:04 & 1:54 are about 45 min from my house,1:20 could be 15 min, 0:36 is more like 20 hrs

great saw i love mine, although i do wonder how a ms 441 or ms 660 feels. i went from 025 to ms362. just wonder how much faster, better they cut than the ms362. glad my dealer didn't have them in stock i guess.

Certain saws, Like the 036, 361, 362, 026, 260, 261 and anything that says "FarmBoss" or "Magnum" on it go for good money on eBay. Use it to your advantage.

If you don't need the big 'hoss then enjoy the power to weight ratio the MS362 offers. 660 is overkill unless you typically cut 36"+ wood. Bringing a cannon to a duel might impress the crowd at first but it won't help you win the fight.

I dunno about those saws, but I can tell you that a 440 feels like the exact perfect amount of overkill

10 cords with a wild thing! You the man I wouldnt chage a "wild" thing.

And it all came out of a dozer pile. It was a long month, but it got me 3 years ahead.

Thats where I would stay. Keep it cheap cheap cheap........You have done well with that saw, but we all have the need for speed..

I cut a 1/2 cord of white oak with the 290 All 6 chains were 26 RMC, very aggressive compared to what I'm used to using. No more leaning on the saw and waiting for it to cut. Carb seems well adjusted (wot no load alternates between 2 and 4 stroke every 1/2 second, or is this a little lean?). Very happy but already thinking of a muffler mod/carb adjustment for just a little more.

That's the only problem with the MS290, always seems to need just "a bit more".

Try this for a real kick in the @$$:

http://www.baileysonline.com/itemdetail.asp?item=SBN 390&catID=

For years of occasional use- 1995-2003 I thought my 029 was a very good saw.
One day I stumbled on a super deal for an 034 with low hours. I snached it up of course.
It only took me a few minutes to realize that the 034 was stronger and much faster cutting while at the same time -weighing..... significantly less.
That's when I stopped using the trusty 029.
A few years later I added an 044 and an 056 super- for the big stuff.
The 029 is still never used (anymore). 029 sits nice and clean on a shelf (waiting for me to get around to selling it to somebody who needs it or thinks he needs it.)
I guess I'm spoiled or a chain saw snob, or just know better now.
The way I look at it- there are too many great saws available to use, that it doesn't make sense to use just a good saw unless I have to.