DeWalt 16 in. 0.325 in. LP Pitch, 0.043 in. Gauge Saw Chain

Why I switched to this narrow-kerf chain

I put this 16-inch .325 low-profile chain on a DeWalt top-handle saw and spent a week limbing storm-felled hardwood and pruning live oak. The idea behind this chain is simple: pair a narrow 0.043-inch gauge with a .325 low-profile pitch to cut a thinner kerf at high chain speed. In practice, that translates to faster cuts with less load on a compact saw—especially a battery-powered top-handle—while maintaining control in the canopy.

If you’re already using DeWalt’s top-handle and the matching .325 LP, 0.043 bar, this chain is an easy performance upgrade. If you’re not, compatibility is the first thing to sort out. More on that below.

Compatibility and setup

This chain is designed to live on a very specific setup: a 16-inch bar that’s .325 low-profile pitch and 0.043-inch gauge. I ran it with DeWalt’s premium 16-inch bar and the DCCS674 top-handle saw, which is the pairing DeWalt calls out. If your bar or sprocket is 3/8 low-profile or your bar groove is 0.050/0.058, stop here—this chain won’t fit properly. Mismatches in pitch or gauge lead to poor tracking and unsafe slack no matter how much you tension it.

A few practical tips:
- Check the bar stamp for the correct pitch, gauge, and drive link count. Order to the bar, not the model number you think you have.
- Swap the rim sprocket to .325 if your saw isn’t already set up that way.
- Expect a brief break-in. I tensioned after the first few cuts and again after a tank’s worth of work (or one battery pack). After that, stretch stabilized.

Mounting was straightforward. With the chain seated correctly, it rode the bar smoothly, and the drive links stayed engaged even under side load in awkward canopy cuts. Just remember that a 0.043 groove is less forgiving of debris; keep the bar groove clean and your oiler flowing.

Cutting performance

On small to medium limbs, this chain is quick. The narrower kerf reduces the amount of wood each cutter has to clear, and on a high-chain-speed top-handle that feels like a noticeable step up in feed rate. In live oak and maple up to about 10–12 inches, I could keep a steady, controlled feed without bogging the saw. The cut finish is clean, with chips showing healthy size and shape when sharp.

Control is a strong suit. The low-profile geometry and the overall narrowness give the tip a predictable feel for perch cuts and precise pruning work. On bore cuts, it engages cleanly without the jumpiness I sometimes see in more aggressive full-chisel profiles. Pull the rakers too low and it will get grabby—as any chain will—but with rakers properly set, it’s composed and fast.

In larger crosscuts (12–14 inches of dense hardwood), you’ll still feel the saw working. This chain doesn’t magically turn a compact top-handle into a felling saw. But it helps the saw hold rpm and recover quicker, which is exactly the point of a narrow-kerf system.

Battery efficiency and heat management

One of the quiet benefits of this chain on a battery saw is reduced load per cut. With the DeWalt top-handle, I saw a modest but real improvement in runtime when doing repetitive limbing compared to a standard-width setup. The saw stayed in its sweet spot more often, which also kept motor and pack temps in check.

That said, hot days and back-to-back heavy cuts can still nudge a pack into thermal limits. Two practical habits helped:
- Rotate batteries to let them cool between sessions.
- Keep the chain sharp. A dull narrow-kerf chain forces the saw to push harder and heat up faster.

The chain’s design sets the stage for good efficiency; your sharpening and technique finish the job.

Sharpening and maintenance

It takes a 5/32-inch file. I stuck with conservative top-plate angles and light, frequent touch-ups rather than deep grinds. The cutters respond well to a few crisp strokes once the chips start to powder. I also checked depth gauges periodically with a standard raker gauge; staying on spec keeps the feed controlled and the chain speed up.

Edge retention was solid in clean wood. As with any narrow-kerf chain, dirt and bark grit are the enemy—touch the ground or hit a sandy wound and you’ll feel the bite vanish. Clean your bar groove, flip the bar at intervals, keep the oiler full, and don’t ignore the first signs of heat (smell, blueing, fine dust). Do that, and the chain holds tension and geometry without drama.

Durability

The alloy steel DeWalt uses here holds up well for a narrow-gauge chain. Rivets stayed tight after break-in, and I didn’t see unusual stretch. The cutters aren’t brittle; they survived a couple of incidental brush knocks without chipping, though you’ll pay for any grit with extra filing.

Is it as burly as a 0.050 full-chisel chain? No—different tool for a different job. For professional pruning and limbing where speed and control matter more than brute-force slogging, the durability is absolutely serviceable.

Safety and handling

Top-handle work demands precise control. This chain’s narrow-kerf behavior helps there—smooth engagement, predictable feed, less tendency to yank the saw into the cut. Still:
- Respect the kickback zone, especially when boring or rolling the tip.
- Keep the rakers in spec. Over-aggressive rakers are a fast track to chatter and kickback.
- Don’t use this chain on the ground or in dirty wood. It’s not a trenching chain.

Downsides to consider

• Compatibility is narrow. This is not a general-purpose chain for the saws many homeowners own. It’s tailored to a .325 low-profile, 0.043 bar and the right drive rim.
• Narrow-kerf means less tolerance for abuse. Dirt, wire, or nails will punish it faster than a wider, more robust chain.
• No limited warranty. Chains are consumables; this one is explicitly not covered. Stock spares if you’re heading into a big job.
• You get one chain in the pack. That’s normal, but if you’re used to buying two-packs, plan accordingly.

Who it’s for

• Arborists and trained climbers running DeWalt’s top-handle who want quick, controlled cuts aloft.
• Ground crews doing clean limbing and bucking of small to medium stock, where efficiency and smoothness matter.
• Battery-saw users who want to squeeze more work out of a pack without going to a more aggressive, less controllable grind.

If your saw is built around 3/8 low-profile or a 0.050/0.058 gauge bar, or you do a lot of dirty storm cleanup, look to a more common pitch/gauge combination with a wider kerf.

Final thoughts and recommendation

This DeWalt 16-inch .325 low-profile, 0.043 chain earns its keep by doing exactly what a narrow-kerf system should: it cuts fast, runs smooth, and lets a compact top-handle carry momentum through limbing and pruning tasks without bogging. It’s easy to keep sharp with a 5/32 file, holds tension after break-in, and plays especially well with battery saws where chain efficiency translates to real runtime.

It’s not a do-everything chain, and it’s not meant to be. The tight compatibility window will frustrate anyone trying to shoehorn it onto the wrong bar or sprocket, and its narrow profile demands clean wood and halfway disciplined maintenance. There’s no warranty safety net if you misuse it.

I recommend it to anyone running the compatible DeWalt top-handle and bar who values speed, control, and battery efficiency in clean cutting. Verify your bar stamp for pitch, gauge, and drive link count, keep a spare in your kit, and you’ll get the performance this chain was designed to deliver. If your setup or work leans toward general-purpose cutting, mixed debris, or heavier bars, choose a more common pitch/gauge instead.