Bar Size

[irv104]

What is a good bar size for a Stihl 046 Magnum ???

[Ianab]

What are you cutting and do you prefer a long or short bar? Some guys like a shorter bar, easier to handle, some prefer longer so they dont have to bend over when limbing.

Something in the 20-28" range would make sense for a saw like that anyway.

Cheers

Ian

[logger]

My 460 wears a 20" stihl ES bar, along with my 440. ;D 8)

[blaze83]

my 044 has a 28" and it is perfect for me, don't have to bend over to limb or buck
8)

[Ed]

I have both 20" and 24" for mine. The saw pretty much plays with either one. I base the bar length on the tree size that I'm felling or bucking. I use a smaller saw for limbing.

Ed

[snowman]

In my younger days I liked a 28 inch bar in smaller timber, easier to get a low stump on steep ground, faster at limbing than a long bar. Now that I'm older I like at least a 32, don't have to bend over so much. A well manufactured stump is prettier that the original tree, who cares if they are high and those limbs arn't going anywhere, theres no rush.I forsee the day coming that I start using a 36 inch bar, that way I can look around as I limb, admire the scenery. ;D

[leweee]

snowman..... your saying size really does matter. :D
silly me been using the shortest bar I could. :

[ComputerUser]

Like everyone else said - 20" to 28" in hardwood.  Run skip chain on the 28" with a 7-pin for best results.  I'd probably stick with the 7-pin on the 20", too, unless your chain sharpening favors chainspeed at the expense of torque.

[sawmilllawyer]

Got both a 20" and a 25" bar and chain set up for the MS 460. Although, the 25" tends to be on there about 99% of the time. Running a 25",  3/8,  .063 guage, 84 drivers, RS or RSC chain on a Rollomatic bar. Effective and seams about right for the saw. Andy

[stonebroke]

Depends what you have to cut. I buck firewood( 12 to20) with a 056. I put a 16 inch bar on it and I really like it. I don't get it into the dirt nearly so much and it cuts very fast.


Stonebroke

[jokers]

Like everyone else said - 20" to 28" in hardwood.  Run skip chain on the 28" with a 7-pin for best results.  I'd probably stick with the 7-pin on the 20", too, unless your chain sharpening favors chainspeed at the expense of torque.

This is close enough to my opinion for me to say that I agree.