Stihl 400c or 462c

[creek chub]

I’m in the market for a new saw. I’m mainly looking at the Stihl 400c and 462c. I’ll mostly run a 20” bar with the occasional 25” bar use.

It looks like there is only about a 1/2 pound difference between the two saws. I’ll definitely send the saw to Randy for porting after about 10-15 tanks.

Any suggestions on which one to pick, or other options would be appreciated

Thanks

 

[redneckhillbilly]

although this may not be the right answer for you. many here have pondered this same question and many similiar, the best answer I can give you is to buy both of them.

 

[Stump Shot]

I'd say either the 400c or a 562xp ought to do you good by the sounds of it.

 

[stihl livin]

There is a Randy 400 in the classifieds right now.

 

[Catfishclark89]

Up to 25” bar my vote is with the 400c especially after Mastermind gets done with it!

 

[Woodpecker]

Pretty hard to beat a ported 400. Mine usually wear a 25” “blade”

 

[Lions fan]

I don't watch a lot of videos, but that 462 Randy did a couple weeks got 2 thumbs up in my book. Also like the aluminum handle on the 462 vs. the plastic one on the 400.

 

[EFSM]

Also like the aluminum handle on the 462 vs. the plastic one on the 400.

I don't know if I will ever be able to keep from cringing when a professional grade/price saw is sold with a plastic handle, even if it works perfectly fine. There's something better feeling about an aluminum/rubber handle. Period.

 

[farminkarman]

I would go with the 400. I have ported both, and the 400 will do everything the 462 could do with those bar lengths except it would do it faster than the 462 with a little less weight. I wouldn’t bother with the 462 unless you were gonna be running a 28”.

 

[mrxlh]

Guess I’m odd man out on this one, I do prefer to run long bars though. I have ran Brad’s 400 and really liked it, I ran Stayners 462 and was like yeah, If I’m going “new saw”, it will be a 462… I will probably end up with both, but the 462 will be first.

 

[kielbasa]

Ya, I'm gonna go against the grain here also....I've had both the 400 and 462. Both saws completely stock.
462 was hands down my preference! No discernible weight difference, but definitely a discernible power difference.
400 went bye bye and I haven't missed it AT ALL.
Now this was the version 2 462, the original version had a lot less grunt and never did impress me.....

 

[Rich Fife]

If you're set on Stihl, I personally like a ported 400... but, if you're only running a 20" bar... the 462 should yield Fast cuts.

 

[jcarlberg]

I bought the 400 & like it. Having said that if I were replacing it, it’s likely I would go 462.

Oiler a bit undersized on the 400.

 

[farminkarman]

I bought the 400 & like it. Having said that if I were replacing it, it’s likely I would go 462.

Oiler a bit undersized on the 400.

I would say the oiler on the 400 is undersized for anything over 25"....but I would say they are more than fine for the 20" the OP primarily runs.

 

[sawmikaze]

I have 2 ported 400s and 4 ported 462s. I know what they run like, I ran my first 462 until the piston finally cracked, it's a torch with a 20" bar and even a 24".

If you're gonna primarily run a 20" bar a 400 is a good buy, depending on what metric you use to determine what's "better"...if you're gonna cut hard dry wood with a 400 with an 84 driver chain you should upgrade the oil pump.

A 400 doesn't out cut a 462 with a 24" bar. I know some people that just play with chainsaws at the chainsaw games may tell you otherwise, it's not true. But it sounds like from your use a 400 is the ticket.

 

[Stump Shot]

I have 2 ported 400s and 4 ported 462s. I know what they run like, I ran my first 462 until the piston finally cracked, it's a torch with a 20" bar and even a 24".

If you're gonna primarily run a 20" bar a 400 is a good buy, depending on what metric you use to determine what's "better"...if you're gonna cut hard dry wood with a 400 with an 84 driver chain you should upgrade the oil pump.

A 400 doesn't out cut a 462 with a 24" bar. I know some people that just play with chainsaws at the chainsaw games may tell you otherwise, it's not true. But it sounds like from your use a 400 is the ticket.

Fair assessment right here.

 

[bwalker]

I have 2 ported 400s and 4 ported 462s. I know what they run like, I ran my first 462 until the piston finally cracked, it's a torch with a 20" bar and even a 24".

If you're gonna primarily run a 20" bar a 400 is a good buy, depending on what metric you use to determine what's "better"...if you're gonna cut hard dry wood with a 400 with an 84 driver chain you should upgrade the oil pump.

A 400 doesn't out cut a 462 with a 24" bar. I know some people that just play with chainsaws at the chainsaw games may tell you otherwise, it's not true. But it sounds like from your use a 400 is the ticket.

There is no replacement for displacement at the end of the day. Although a 400c does very well in soft wood with a 24" bar.

 

[sawmikaze]

There is no replacement for displacement at the end of the day. Although a 400c does very well in soft wood with a 24" bar.

They do good when ported with a 24" bar in Hardwood as well, I have one greg did and one kevin did.

The early 462s were speedy, the newer ones have better torque if the guy porting it knows how to get it.

I traded for one of the 400s I have and the other I bought for someone because I got a better deal and they stuck me with it and never answered my messages...so I figured I'd keep it.

They each serve a purpose...like any saw.

 

[Rich Fife]

Husqvarna, gas powered equipment is going down hill... their trending push is more towards battery operated equipment. I can foresee them dropping lines and finding a compromise between the saws they're going to drop and the saws they're going to keep... it seems like husqvarna wants to close their US plants and move them to Brazil...
Idk if they will, especially if Trump imposes the tariffs. If they still end up closing the US plants and move to Brazil I can see Stihl building or opening more factories in the Continental US.
Or maybe Husqvarna hopes that BRICS denounces the American dollar after they move and then they'll have the strong hold on all.of the BRICS nations/Countries???

 

[lehman live edge slab]

Husqvarna, gas powered equipment is going down hill... their trending push is more towards battery operated equipment. I can foresee them dropping lines and finding a compromise between the saws they're going to drop and the saws they're going to keep... it seems like husqvarna wants to close their US plants and move them to Brazil...
Idk if they will, especially if Trump imposes the tariffs. If they still end up closing the US plants and move to Brazil I can see Stihl building or opening more factories in the Continental US.
Or maybe Husqvarna hopes that BRICS denounces the American dollar after they move and then they'll have the strong hold on all.of the BRICS nations/Countries???

The husky stuff in the us has already been scheduled to shut if it hasn’t already and Stihl USA is the largest manufacturing division of Stihl already from what I hear. They assemble equipment, manufacture plastic for all divisions of Stihl in all countries, extrude their own trimmer line, make bars, just opened a battery plant, they forge and make crank shafts there, make and machine pistons. Stihl says they make over 50% of a 362 in house. They’re making 90% of their own cylinders in Brazil along with castings. They make saw cases for themselves and magnesium castings for other companies in Germany. They make all their own carburetors and sell to husqvarna and others im sure. They also have gone into the battery end and we’ll see how that works out.