Either saw can be fitted with an 18" or 20" bar although IMHO, they are a bit much for the Echo. The Husky is a relatively new model, it is replacing the 55 Rancher which is one of my favourites (sniff), and is a completely different and yet to be proven design.The CS520 might be a better choice.

I own a 440 and use it for essentially the same work (firewood stuff). It has been excellent - a good starter and performer. Occasionally, I do want more power....but not often enough to justify purchasing a larger machine.

I would not put a 20" bar on it, though.

If you do a considerable amount I'd look at the 385. More money but a heck of a saw.

The 455 is a nice reliable saw. Kind of in the same class as the MS290.

Previous 455 discussion.

The Echo CS520 wieghts 10.6# and will outcut the Husky 455 which wieght 12.6#. The Echo has a metal case, Husky is plastic. The Echo CS440 is a nice saw and cuts good but the CS520 is way faster and 1/2# more. Steve

the huksy advertised as an 20" is likely to be an 18.5 as the 18" on my 350 is 16.5" from the spike. they cheat you by measuring the bar length with out the bucking spike on it. im still not convinced that low level husky's arent p.o.s. to plasticy/bendy. now pro-husky's........make the wood fly

yetty,

Bar measurement is going to be the same for any manufacturer excepting subtle differences in driver count, ie; some 20" 3/8 pitch bars require 70 dl and others require 72.

what i was attempting to vaguely explain was that huksy saws...atleast the homeowner models....have less bar sticking out then advertised. my dads saw is an 18".....it runs normal 18 inch chains but only has 16.5 inches of bar in front of the bucking spike....

"what i was attempting to vaguely explain was that huksy saws...atleast the homeowner models....have less bar sticking out then advertised. my dads saw is an 18".....it runs normal 18 inch chains but only has 16.5 inches of bar in front of the bucking spike...."
Yes, I understand that yetty, but can a saw of a different manufacture which uses a chain with the same number of drive links have significantly more bar protruding than the Husky?........no........just think about that for a minute, I`m not trying to be smart with you.

Neither of the two saws you mention would be choices I would make for a serious firewood saw. They also have precious little in common with one another.

The length of the bar that the saw comes with is a meaningless comparison. Look to engine displacement, saw weight, balance in your hands, etc.

I'd aim for a 60cc saw as an all-around firewood saw. If you are going to have multiple saws, you could go 40-50cc and 70-80cc and have a saw for limbing and for big work.

I generally agree with what you are saying on this topic computeruser but I have to admit that when someone says they have considerable firewood to process and they are on these forums I assume that they mean 3 or 4 cords, not 3 or 4 hundred. For a guy who is not under the gun for production, a good lightweight ~50cc saw can cut alot of firewood without taking a toll on them physically.

You can cut a lot of wood with a good 50cc saw, if it's a lot of bigger wood 18" plus 60 or 70cc would be nice. It seems I use my 50cc over half the time I own 56, 67, 71, 80, 85, 90, and 95cc saws. Steve

Do you do any milling ladylake? I thought with all those saws and having a few big ones that you might.

I do a lot of milling with a B20 Timberking bandsaw, have to rip big logs done so they will fit the mill sometimes. I have way more saws than I need, just like to compare different brands firsthand. Steve