Take a look at this video and text.
I cut lots of hardwoods here in the Ozarks. Especially white oak and red oak.
1st point:
Most saws use standard width blades and they heat up fast and dull…..get the widest possible blade that will fit your saw and it will not heat up as fast The 2nd thing:
Pay attention to #5 on parts of the chain. It is called the depth gauge part of the chain….and it determines how much bite the cutting edge takes.
Most manufacturers set that gauge height for non aggressive cutting to reduce kick back for the average joe user.
This shallow bite causes blades to heat up quickly and dull fast no matter what brand you use. Professional loggers have been known to grind this gauge down a small amount to increase the bite of the saw.
That's how loggers get their saws to cut so well. I had an Amish logger show me this and it was amazing how much longer the blades seemed to last. https://www.oregonproducts.com/en/product-support/chainsaw/saw-chain-terminology/c/saw-chain-terminology-s

Before that I tried many different blade brands that all seemed to perform about the same.

AggieDruggist89 said:

---

Fellas, in my never ending endeavor to fire proof in Northern Cal, I need a recommendation on high quality chain that lasts more than 10 passes through an Oak. Forester Carbide a good brand? Friends recommendation.

TIA

---

Search for the "yellow" coded chains, almost all chains on saws for consumer use are "green" coded, less agressive, less kickback..but slower to cut.

Years ago I switched to the yellow coded chains, and let the (bigger) chips fly! Just be aware of the increased kickback, but it has never been a problem for me.

Sorta what Gunny mentioned, but a lot easier to buy the chains ready to go.
I think there is also a "red" coded chain, the most agressive. No knowledge of how well it works (or any safety issues).

From Stihl:
ANSI B175.1 Chain Saw Kickback Standard

STIHL's green and yellow color code system serves to identify STIHL bars and chains with different kickback reduction characteristics. Green (go) marks those products which are designed to reduce the risk of kickback injury and comply with the ANSI B175.1 kickback standard. STIHL's low-kickback chain features a green tie strap that identifies each loop as "low-kickback" chain that meets the ANSI standard. Recommended for both the experienced and inexperienced chainsaw user. Yellow (caution) marks products with increased risk of kickback injury. They are for use only by persons with extraordinary cutting needs and experience and specialized training in dealing with kickback conditions.

Grinding the gauge will allow it tot take bigger chunks. I use Oregon and Stihl chains only. I also by the professional blades, which have high kickback potential. My use is a lot of mesquite and oak. I keep 3-5 chains on hand that are sharp and I have a bench sharpener. I don't fiddle with sharpening in the field. When my chain starts putting out dust instead of chunks, it goes in the used bin and I throw in a fresh chain. Then when I have time, I sharpen all my chains and repeat.

This chick has some decent chainsaw content.

I like her.

i got the stihl 2 in 1 file sharpener. has a guide that sets the right angle and grinds the rakers down as well in the same pass. works pretty quickly once you get the hang of it. just 2-3 passes per tooth and it cuts like new. that thing saved my ass during hurricane beryl cleanup.

OK, you Stihl guys may not like this because I'm an Echo guy. My echo man got me onto Carlton brand chains a few years ago. He told me they would easily outlast any factory chain at least 2 to 1. He makes these chains custom from a spool - I don't think they come in "pre-made" sizes

I have a new Echo saw with an 18" bar. Just Saturday, I cut a live oak slab that took the full 18" with my Carlton chain. I made 4 full cuts on this log that has been laying there over ten years. For those of you who know how hard a cured live oak gets in south Texas, they are hard.

I then proceeded to cut up a 14-16 inch elm tree and ended the session by making two cuts through a 10" mesquite. It still cuts like new. I'm not sure how this stacks up to the chains y'all have been discussing, but it's the best chain I've found