Husqvarna 450 Rancher Chainsaw: Thoughts on this Model?

Modernbucket

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Hey all,
I’ve been considering upgrading my chainsaw and am looking at the Husqvarna 450 Rancher. I do a lot of firewood cutting, and sometimes need to take down fairly large trees. My old saw, a Craftsman 18", has been reliable, but it’s starting to feel underpowered for the bigger jobs.

I’ve heard good things about the 450 Rancher, but I’m not sure if it’s up to the task of cutting larger trees. I’ve read a review from Popular Mechanics that gave it a solid rating, but I want to hear from users who’ve actually put it to work.

Does anyone have firsthand experience with this saw? Do you think it’s worth the investment?

Thanks!
 
Hey @Modernbucket!! The Husqvarna 450 Rancher is a solid mid-range saw. If you’re upgrading from a smaller saw, you’ll notice the difference in power. It’s great for firewood cutting and general yard work, but if you’re regularly cutting larger trees (over 24” diameter), it might feel a bit slow compared to higher-end models like the 572XP. However, for the price, it’s a solid choice and you’ll get good value for the money.

I’d say it’s a good fit for most people who do occasional heavy cutting. If you’re cutting larger trees on a regular basis, though, you might want to look into something with more power.
 
Stihl all the way. Similar size and price, get you a MS271 Farm Boss—that’s my kind of saw. Little heavier but also a bit more power. Nothing on our ranch has slowed it down.

If we’re talkin about heavy-duty, there’s only one saw I’d pick—the Stihl MS362 C-M. It’s a professional-grade beast with 4.69 bhp and a 20” bar that’ll chew through hardwood like butter. Ate right through cedar trees when we did some clearing years back. It'll set ya back though, around $800.
 
The 450 Rancher is a great all-around saw, but if you're tackling big hardwoods often, you might start wishing for a little more power. Have you thought about going up a step to the 460 Rancher?
Good point on the 460 Rancher, definitely worth considering if you’re cutting larger trees often.
 
hey everyone!

Appreciate all the feedback! Sounds like the 450 Rancher is a solid upgrade from what I have but might struggle a bit with bigger hardwoods. @highwayBoss, I hadn’t looked into the 460 Rancher, does it make a noticeable difference in power and cutting speed?

Also, for those recommending Stihl, do you think the MS271 is worth the extra weight compared to the 450 Rancher?
 
The 450 Rancher is a great saw for firewood and medium-sized trees, but if you’re dealing with big hardwoods regularly, I’d second the suggestion to look at the 460 Rancher. A little extra power can make a big difference over time. Either way, Husqvarna makes solid saws!
 
The 450 Rancher is a solid workhorse, but if you're eyeing bigger trees, a little extra power never hurts! The 460 Rancher might be worth the bump if you’re cutting hardwoods regularly. Also, @winston_wisdom’s point about the MS271 is interesting—anyone here tried both side by side? Would love to hear how they stack up in real-world use!
 
The 450 Rancher seems like a great all-rounder, but I’d be curious to hear from anyone who’s used both the 450 and 460—how much of a difference does that extra power make in real-world cutting?
 
The 450 Rancher sounds like a solid all-rounder, but I’d also be curious about the real-world difference between it and the 460. If the extra power makes a big difference for hardwoods, it might be worth spending a little more upfront. Anyone here made the switch and noticed a major improvement?
 
Some great insights here! Sounds like the 450 Rancher is a solid saw, but the 460 might be worth it for those bigger cuts. Has anyone actually put them head-to-head in real-world use? Would love to hear if the extra power justifies the price jump!
 
The 450 Rancher is a solid choice, especially if you're upgrading from a smaller saw. I’ve used one mainly for firewood and medium-sized trees, and it’s been reliable. That said, if you’re tackling a lot of big hardwoods, I’d agree with others that the 460 might be worth considering for the extra power. Either way, Husqvarna makes great saws and you can’t really go wrong!
 
Seems like a lot of folks are leaning toward the 460 for the extra power, that makes me wonder if the 450 Rancher ever feels underpowered after a while. Anyone here regretted not going bigger, or does the 450 hold its own just fine for most jobs?
 
Really good insights here! It sounds like the 450 Rancher is a solid choice for most jobs, but the 460 might be worth it if you’re dealing with a lot of big hardwoods.

@EB_Banawe, that’s a great question, has anyone here started with the 450 and later wished they’d gone with the 460 or even a pro-grade saw? Or does the 450 hold up just fine over time?
 
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