stihl & husky, both good saws.....keep chains sharp and the saw clean and oiled.

I run the pro series MS 261 C-M with 18" bar. It is equipped with a the M-Tronic onboard microprocessor which digitally monitors and automatically compensates for changes in your work conditions, including elevation, temperature, fuel quality, varying octane levels, and dirty filters. I was skeptical having a chainsaw with a computer chip but it has turned out to be the best saw I've ever owned. It will almost always start within 3 pulls no matter the condition.

Its the smallest pro-series saw they make. The dealer put a tachometer on this saw and compared it with a farm boss. If I remember correctly, it ran 3000 to 4000 RPMs faster. Its lightweight but will out-cut most any of the consumer grade saws that stihl makes, respectively.

ol' dad

I have 2 ms291s that I've cut lumber with for 15 years and have never had a problem. Got a farm boss too that's a great saw.

I don't know much about saws, but I would recommend buying a saw that has a service shop near you if it needs fixing.

Have a Stihl 50 cc MS 261 (20" bar) & 72 cc MS 462 (25" bar)...Both have tunable carbs, not the M-Tronic auto tune computer crap that you need to reset periodically.

Also have a 45 cc Husky 350....All great saws.

My recommendation is to purchase a non computerized -pro grade saw to keep things simple & keep them well maintained & chains sharp...You can still find new old stock manually adjustable carb saws, but you have to search the dealerships.

EPA is the reason for auto tune saws, adding unecessary complexity & potentially higher repair costs, IMO.

It's easy with YouTube to work on your own saw.

I have been running an outdoor boiler for 20 years, I live in an OLD 2 story farmhouse. People ask "how much wood do you use per year"? Well, anywhere from 8-15 gallons of 2 stroke gas worth! That being said, Stihl is the only thing I own. I have worn out an 017,ms390 and a 660 Magnum.I currently run an ms250 and a 500i. A 362 or 261 would definitely be worth looking at, but DANG,pro-grade saws are expensive. Let us know what you decide.

I run a 390 with a 20 inch bar no control issues just follow basic safety rules.

I have a stihl 310 with a 20 inch bar. Been a good saw for me to cut firewood for the boiler, keep a sharp chain on it and that saw does wonders

[quote=ol' dad]I run the pro series MS 261 C-M with 18" bar. It is equipped with a the M-Tronic onboard microprocessor which digitally monitors and automatically compensates for changes in your work conditions, including elevation, temperature, fuel quality, varying octane levels, and dirty filters. I was skeptical having a chainsaw with a computer chip but it has turned out to be the best saw I've ever owned. It will almost always start within 3 pulls no matter the condition.

Its the smallest pro-series saw they make. The dealer put a tachometer on this saw and compared it with a farm boss. If I remember correctly, it ran 3000 to 4000 RPMs faster. Its lightweight but will out-cut most any of the consumer grade saws that stihl makes, respectively.


Actually, the 241 is their smallest pro saw. I have the 261 like you and have had great luck with it, but I might have the 241 in the stable soon. I like them light powerhouse saws....

I have a few Sthil saw's. An old 290 Farm Boss, a MS251, a 261, a 441 and a new 290. They have all been good and reliable to me.
I had an old Husky model 61 I think it was that I wore out. That was the best cutting saw ever, except for the hot muffler on yer left hand.
A 261 with an 18" or 20" bar will last you a long time with the trees you have out there.
Charge your time accordingly with cost to maintain the saw.

Zim

The smallest pro saw Stihl makes is an MS 201 I believe.

I have the 441 and it's a beast. With a 32 inch bar, nothing stops it. It like 5.5 hp and it never bogs down. It just cuts with big chips

I figured it would be. Our Ms180 we have is very used but we maintain it good and it's lasted 4 years or so and made back way more than it's worth.

I don't need a professional grade saw as I don't really do many jobs like this and also the price difference is a lot.

I do keep a sharp chain on it and its nice but I don't want to be switching chains all day when I'm dealing with bigger wood.

We have a really good Stihl dealer about 30 miles away which Is why I want to stick with them and also because we run all Stihl lawn equipment and it's never let us down.

I wish it was other people's money then it wouldn't have been a question of what saw to go with. I just prefer Stihl as that is what we use for everything and have a good dealer close by.

For my use, a auto tune is way overkill for me so that's out of the question.

That was my main worry with going with too big of a saw is the control issues since I have been running a little one for so long.