Which bush hog blades?

[prof fate]

So it's cutting time again, I mow 20 acres of horse pasture.

Got a used bush hog 256 last year (med duty 6' from the late 80s).

It needs blades... so I go looking and I see three choices...not sure which is best for MOST of what i mow...

There is a 7556BH 'high lift grass blade', 4" wide.
There is a 304, 'standard' which is 3" wide.
And there is a 463, 4" wide.

95% of what I cut is basically hay and weeds, some short as a lawn but much of it is 3 feet tall. While i'm not looking for a finished lawn, i'm getting too much 'stand up' the day after. Checking out a blade at the store shows mine are long overdue for a replacement.

Prices seem about the same...7556BH is the most common to find. TSC has them in stock at a fair price.

Thoughts? Advice? Experience?

 

[Ortimber]

I'm not sure about what blades to recommend, but I also dislike the "stand up" as well. Unfortunately I think that is mostly caused by driving over the grass before it's cut. With that in mind, maybe the high lift blades might help...

 

[Oldoak]

Ortimber, that was my thoughts too and I agree the high lift blades may help a little.

 

[RickB]

7556BH. No contest.

 

[EddieWalker]

I just buy what Messicks has for sale. KOHLER / BUSH HOG: RS9YC PLUG, Part # 34 lists them for $36.60 each

On my zero turn, I tried just about every type of high lift, bahia grass, mulching blade that I could find, and hated all of them. I now buy the factory blades and feel that they give me the best results for the best price. On my Landpride rotary cutter, I buy brand new blades from Messicks every year and I've been very pleased with the results.