One thing you have to remember, this is a chainsaw topic on a tractor forum site, most of the people on here don't want to mod or change anything, they just want to pick up a saw..have it start easily..and be able to use it when needed. All saws (on the pro end anyway) can be modified and altered to make them run well above their stock capability, but that is another topic all together. I think the OP is just looking to get the most bang for his buck with a stock saw.
Is the Husqvarna 460 or the Stihl 290 the best saws out there? No.
Will they work for most homeowner/landowner applications? Yes.
Are they both reliable in stock form with adeqate power? Yes.
Are there better saws available that will still not break the bank? Yes.
Would these be my first choices? No
I always look at the power to weight ratio and the task at hand when deciding which saw to pick up. How much use is the saw going to see and long will you be holding (operating it) in a given period of time.
big wood=big saw, less time
small wood=small saw avearge time
medium wood=small saw more time, big saw less time
Now lets see how much time you are going to spend cutting in a day's time;
less time you can tolerate a heavier saw, more time you will want a lighter saw with a better power to weight ratio i.e. a pro saw.
Pro saw= more money, less weight, better power to weight ratio
Landowner saw= less money, more weight, not as good of a power to weight ratio.
It's all in what "your" needs require; go try some (dealers will let you do that, the box stores won't), see which one you like the best, and go with it.
