Looking for a new saw have to clear some timber at hunting camp thanks to Asian beetles
Anyway I was contemplating going with the still MS271 20 inch bar anyone own one I had a husquavarna rancher 20 inch bar blew it up after 15yrs
Appreciate any feed back on the stihl

Can't go wrong with a Stihl. Question is, do you have a service center nearby that will work on it if need be? That is very impo'tant.

How big are the trees and how many of them are there. I think the 271 is a bit on the small side for serious cutting. Fine for firewood though I would think. But if you have to clear a lot of trees I would go with a 60cc saw as a minimum.

Take a look at the echo timber wolf. I picked one up a couple years ago and have been pleasantly surprised. Really kicks out the chips.

I run all pro model Stihls with zero complaints, that said the Echos are decent saws and you are not paying for a name, feel like you get more bank for your buck with Echo on the lower end stuff.

I've had my ms360 for 18-20 years and still consider it my "new" saw. I think the equivalent new saw is a 361 or 2. I've never had a problem with mine, until this past week when the oil cap broke. I used it today. Can't go wrong with a Stihl.

Have had several Stihl saws, currently my favorite is the 261, pro series, light n powerful. Have a. MS250 , not super impressive. The pro series have always done me well. Pay more but really worth it.

if you like stihl and have a dealer around they can be a good saw.

I would not however run the MS271 with anything larger than a 16 inch bar for regular cutting

I had a MS260 ran it 9 years , then rebuilt it new piston and jug, then 2 more and sold it for parts .

I had gotten it with a 20 inch bar and I think that was a mistake , my great uncle ran the same saw with an 16 inch bar and got more life from it.

it was not an issue when occasionally I would get into wood that needed a 20 inch bar but when I was in big wood every cut till I ran out of gas , fill it and repeat half the day.

you could get a 16 and a 20 run the cheaper chains any time you don't need the extra bar length.



that said I am running a pair of Jonsered saws currently , because I have a good j-red dealer

one is a CS2255 the red version of the Huquvarna 455 rancher for the money it is a hard saw to beat I run this with a 18 inch bar

my other saw I went bigger a CS2166 it is a non electric carb Husky 372xp they don't get as much power out of it as the 372xp but I like the saw and it pulls a 24 inch bar well.

if you have a fair amount fo clearing to do and really like the 20 inch bar I would get a 460 rancher with a 20 inch bar I think you would be very happy with that as a saw and it would be about as budget as you can get for that kind of power.

stihl , husky , dolmar/makita , even echo if you have a good dealer that is more important than the saw brand at this time.

Thanks guys I’m not pulling the trigger for a week or so after reading all the replies I’m gonna go to some dealers around and put a eye ball on all saws you guys talked about thank you to everyone

For years my brother and I ran (still do) both Husky and Jonsered pro saws. Currently I also have an Echo CS590 (60cc) saw that is pretty impressive considering they weren't high end 40 years ago. I'm running a 24" bar most of the time and am pretty impressed. I see them retail just about everywhere for $399.

I like husky saws mainly because my hands don't fall asleep when I run them like they do when I would run my 064 Stihl , Johnsred or however it's spelled are a good saw also as is Sachs Dolmar if you have a lot of tree's to cut buy a pro saw with at least a 24" bar then get a full skip chain plus a couple extra loops just because .
It'll save your back and knees in the long run.

My only go to chain saw = Stihl. I used many others but these are high quality.

If your plan is to only have one size saw to do it all, I suggest a pro model 50cc. Husky, Stihl, Jonsy, your preference based upon dealership service availability. I personally have a a Stihl 261cm. It is 50cc, lighter than the 271 you speak of, but more powerful and will handle a 20inch bar if you choose. I opted for the 18inch bar and it has been a dependable workhorse. As someone mentioned, you'll pay more for the pro model...but youll never regret it.

If you are looking for a 271 id jump up to the 291. You will be much happier

Husky rancher

I got a stihl ms310. I have both a 18" and 20" bar. It runs a lot better with the 18. It will pull a 20, but bogs down quite a bit. Great saw though.

they say the formula to happy saw to bar length is divide the CC by 3

50 cc /3 = 16.667"

55cc /3 = 18.33

60cc /3= 20

72cc /3= 24

it seems to hold fairly true , my 55 cc saw came with a 20 I bought a 18 on a deal because I could get clearance bars and inexpensive chain and I was expecting to find fence wire in some of the trees I had to cut it just doesn't slow down with a 18 just piles up the chip.

every saw that fits this I have tried has cut very well.

saws that run a bigger bar than the divide by 3 often not as impressive not that there couldn't be an exception

It depends on how big the tees are that you will be cutting. If they are going to be 2' or more then you will want a saw that can handle that size bar. I like to be a bit over kill with my saw when I am dropping trees. I use an stihl 064 (80+cc) with a 24" bar. You can cut a 30" tree with a smaller saw and a 20" bar but I can cut it faster and better. There is no such thing as too much power when dropping trees. That said, if you are only cutting trees in the 20" range you could drop to the 70 cc range with a 20" bar and be fine.

When I go out to cut I am either going out to cut for a set amount of time or I am going out to cut a set amount of wood. Either way I would like to get it done as fast as I can or get as much cut as I can. That just isn't gonna happen with a 50 cc saw.

If I know I will be in smaller trees I will put the 20" bar on and change the sprocket on the 064. That makes the chips fly!

I have a Stihl MS 261C 18 inch and it takes all I give it in bigger oak. I however have learned after many cords of wood behind me. I got a small Stihl MS 170, right now with coupon $159.00 Reason being is a bigger saw is great for trunks and logs, but our trees have limbs and a lot on some oaks and ash. After dropping a whopper, I limb out with the light saw then switch back to bigger saw for bucking up the logs. It sure helps shoulders and arms after a long day. 90% of yard storm limb work, and trail work is the small saw, it stays right in the truck, always ready to open a trail after a blow.