I have a Stihl MS 291 that I bought new, probably in 2012. It reliably starts on the second pull. It's been big enough to cut up everything I have wanted to cut. It sits without being used for many months at a time.

I would like to also have a small, light model, Stihl because most of what I cut, is light brush and smaller branches to grill with. I don't need the extra horsepower to cut quickly, for most of what I cut. I would use a lighter saw more too, especially when cutting bush honeysuckle and sapling honey locusts.

Keith

I’ve had my 261 for a number of years now. I have dropped a lot of trees and cut many, many cords of wood with it. It’s never given me any problems. It’s lightweight and powerful. I would buy another one in a heartbeat. Run, I would love to hear why you have that opinion.

Pro series - 026 - 18" bar for bucking, 441 - 20 & 24" bar depending on tree diameter, 461 - 24" & 30" . Run 3/8 pitch chain and bar on all three. Don't have to worry about different size files. Buy a Stihl 2 in 1 chainsaw sharpener and learn to use it. Best $35 investment for chain life.

If you ever pinch a saw and we all do, you will wish you had a 2nd. The 026 has got me out of a bind more than once.

The PRO Series saws last a long time

I have a tree farm and use all three for TSI and cut 12-14 cord of wood a year for my own use.

Something around the 290ish series is really handy, not really commercial work grade, but economical yet something that you can be productive with.

No power. My neighbor has a Husky no idea on the model number. But it's smaller than the 261. He cut circles around me, I wanted to find the closest varmint hole to hide in.

I cut locust that has been curing for 15+ years.

The Husqvarna model.

I've got a 028 from the late 80s that runs like the day I bought it and in recent years acquired an MS362C. Got it all well covered now and couldn't be happier with the brand.

Those are great little saws. I agree with swapping the .043 chain for .050. We also swapped the bar and chain on our pole saw to .050 as well.

Hey it was cold. When they warm up they look like this

What brand is the slab cutter and how do you like it?

I see Stihl sells a fuel injected saw. That's a first as far as I know.

Its a cheap clone from Amazon. I added the trailer winch. The saw is my 661 with a 36 " bar. It works a treat but is a good work out when you slab a good size hardwood log.

Best advice I can give.
Go to dealership and pick up a saw your interested in and others.
If it don’t have the bar on you want, ask to have it installed. ( Good dealers will do this for you )
It’s you that’s buying the saw, not the dealer, not trapperman.
Larrywaugh in your first post you said, Medium to heavy use with low repairs.
Homeowner is out, so Farm & Ranch is what I will suggest.
271 or 291

"Creating deer habitat" in Kansas. What is the diameter/species of the trees you're going to be cutting?

Out here on the Leftist coast, we have everything from scrubby little ash to very large fir and cottonwood. Running a smaller saw makes sense a majority of the time. Bigger saws for serious tree work.

I'd be happy to make a suggestion or two. But, since you insist on a Stihl....I'm out.

Most of the trees I would cut would be less than 15 with one occasionally bigger than that. I dont need one to clear cut a forest. I just dont want one that breaks down a lot.

If I recall correctly as long as the second number is a 6 then it is a pro series.
With that said I have an 028 super and a 360 pro. I have not started the 028 in several years.

The 360 uses rubber vibration mounts. The 361 and 362 uses springs. I know springs can and may break but I can assure you rubber mounts will wear out. That's about the only issues except crank seals. Old dry seals are a common reason a lot of saws are given up on.
Less then 10$ will replace them.

I had my dad's old 028 when I moved to the land of aspen and wood stoves. It was old and worn out, didn't last with the hard use. I used a 290, a 311 and another one, 025?. When I went into the dealership, they were wanting to sell me a 291, until I said I wanted the pro level saw. I went with the 261 and don't regret it at all. It has as much or more power than the 311, but at a fraction of the weight. I don't use it as much as I did that first winter, but could easily put it to work cutting cords of wood.

For Kansas, unless you are cutting down some of the big oaks, that size saw will do most everything you need it to do. The biggest thing will be the chain sharpness if you cut any hedge. That's a dirty, oily tree that will wear down your chains quick, no matter what saw you use.

pro saw for durability. ms362