Chainsaw - what brand and size

What is your go to chainsaw? I will be clearing logging roads where I deer hunt and occasionally cutting limbs for customers in my ADC business. I imagine that would be two different saws but I would like to keep it simple.

Thanks, Wally

All round. 40-45 cc. 16 bar. Go with a local dealer with a good reputation.

I run a Stihl 390 it fits all my needs it must be the right size my landowners call me to do their bigger trees and I take oversized trees that my buddy drops off from his tree business.

I cut up 3-4 medium sized trees a year with a stihl 16” saw. MS 180 if I remember correctly. It has easy start feature that is great since I have bad shoulders. I’ve had it about 10 years now and it’s fires right up and does all I ask of it as long I keep a sharp chain on it.

Stihl 261 would be my choice in your situation

Stihl MS-261 would be a dandy.

I would go with a stihl also ive had them for over 40 years and have never had a problem except when my son put straight gas in one that didn't work too good.

largest tree you intend to cut?

not knowing your intentions , general recommendation

Husky 550xp or Stihl MS261

both 50cc saws , both pro saws , both right in the middle of capable enough to cut anything you can get an 18 inch bar through

the most all around saws you can get in my opinion.

I have a stihl 18", maybe a 271, but I don't remember for sure. It has been a great saw for me.

I also have a Echo CS-271T, 12". Its a great little top handle light weight saw for small stuff. Its my go-to unless I'm cutting something big.

I also have cheap weedeater attachment pole saw with 3 extensions (manufacturers only approve of using 1 extension, I bought more extensions online). I buy these cheap (last one around $60) on amazon. I swapped the 8" bar for a 12" bar. They are very handy for clearing paths because I can walk it and cut stuff back while standing on the ground. No ladders, no stretching. I've had one get broke when a branch bent a way I didn't expect, but I was holding the saw out the 2nd floor window of my deer blind trimming the trees, so its not a big surprise something went sideways. That's why I get the cheap pole saw attachments. I get years out of them, then order another when needed.

for more serious cutting I use a husky xp562, for putsing around trim here, trim there type stuff I use a stihl electric.

Electric is nice for a few quick cuts here, let it sit for a couple of minutes and a couple more quick cuts.
No starting and stopping saw or letting sit and idle.

372 husky or 500i stihl

I'm currently running Stihl MS250 had it about 10 years now?? replaced my 1974 Homelite 150. Its all the saw I need but I'm not put up firewood to heat the house. Just use it for clean up around home and my other property. My son has the larger Stihl saw they used to call the farm boss MS somethingnow? ? I can have him run that for heavy cutting. Being as I'm now handicapped I don't like to horse his big saw around. Can't move quick enough to get out of the way of things. Mine is big as I want to wrestle. Son also has smaller stihl saw think MS150. Actually easier for me to handle now for limbing and such.

Mac

Yall are gonna laugh at me but for the last couple of years all I’ve used on our farm is a 40 volt Ryobi 14 inch chainsaw.
Haven’t cranked out jonesered or poulan saws a single time and that’s for cleaning up fence lines after storms, cutting fence posts and power poles to length, etc

Now if I was gonna cut up a mature oak tree I’d fire up the big ones but I’d still use the Ryobi on the limbs and clean up.

X2

I get some fire wood every year, just use Husky Rancher with 20" bar.

Been a good saw

X3

How long are you running your saw at any given time and how thick is what you are cutting?
I watched a crew pruning some branches overhanging a neighbors roof.
They were using a Stihl electric saw.
No gas, no pulling a cord, no vibration.
If you're cutting firewood it wouldn't be cost effective, but if you already have batteries for power tools you might look into a Milwaukee or Dewalt saw for occasional light duty work.

I type slowly.
JBR made the point that I was getting at.

And an electric saw is much easier to use if you're working over head.

The 500i is pricey but I’ll never own anything else.

I used to buy cheap Poulan saws because I didn't need a saw very often. Big mistake. I remember after a hurricane, a problem saw would crank and run a few moments, and then quit. I gave it to a "cheap" neighbor with instructions for him not to return it under any circumstances. This guy once sent his wife across the street to ask if they could borrow my lawnmower. In about an hour, she returned saying the mower needed more gas. I know they had a mower and a gas can.

Big saws are crazy high priced I looked at ACE the other day a 390 size was $800+

I have 5 stihl saws, a 251, a 261, a 290,a 291 and a 441. All good saws but if I had to keep only 1 it would be the MS261C.

Zim

Mine is a Stihl MS400C. 20" bar. You can cut small stuff with a big saw, but cutting big stuff with a small one is more challenging.

I have a preference for Husqvarna. For lite to medium work: 350 w/18" bar. For the big jobs: 372 w/ 24" bar.
I also have husky 359, 562, 385 and a second 350.

have ran stihl from 250 up to the 660, Husky's from 455 to 385, my fave by far is the 562 xp.

Look into the ECHO line of saws. Going to be quite a bit less purchase price, and for the average user they cut pretty well (some extremely well for their size). I have pro saws and a 590 Echo, no problems.

I cut around 25-30 cord of firewood a year as a side hustle. I use only Stihl saws. I own a 026, 261, 360, 441 and a 661. The 261 would be the first to go if I was downsizing. The 360 would be the last.

They were all bought from pawn shops in excellent condition for less than half of new cost. All have been extremely reliable only requiring new plugs and filters.

Interesting, I am curious why the 261 would go before the 026? I am thinking the gas and oil caps. But fully agree the on the 360, it can do it all.

To the OP, if money isn’t an issue get the pro saw, like mentioned the pro line of echo is cheaper and great saws, also no computer unless that changed.

Good advice plus ECHO has a 5-year homeowner warrantee.

Homelite Super EZ, Wiz or Zip.

Line Jumper

Running both the 026 and 261 with identical bars and chain, the 026 is the more powerful. That is just my experience.

Takes 10 tanks of fuel to break in a new saw, you may see some power gains after that.

If I was going to get a saw for only occasional use it would be electric, get it to match whatever batteries you already have, if you want a gas saw for occasional use a non pro model stihl or a echo would be very adequate. A 261 is an expensive saw made to stand up to heavy use, if your not doing that there's no point in spending the money.

I have two Stihls with 16" bars, a 260 and a 026. After I started buying the premix in the cans, I've never had a problem with them starting or running.

How much is a gallon of that pre-mix?

I buy the generic cheap brand sold at Runnings. I buy it by the quart for easy pouring. I pay around $6. per can. A gallon is about 4 times that much, I suppose. I like it because you don't have to run a stabilizer through the saw at the end of the season. If you buy the name brand stuff like Stihl or Husky, it will cost you close to $10 a quart.

I think most here are suggesting way more saw than you need for that type work.... Unless them logging roads are blocked with huge trees.



I buy only non-ethanol gas for all small engines and I never use any type of stabilizer overwintering them. Zero issues doing that. I don't run them dry either, even my boat motors.

I’ve had my Stihl 028 Wood Boss since 1986

Used electric saws, but don’t own one. It’s nice to just pull the trigger and not have to start the machine.

I own a variety of Stihl saws/powerheads. 026 to 046 in size. For the OP something in the size of the MS 362 with a 28” bar. The pro series saws are with the upgrade price. A longer bar will keep you from having to stoop down to cut, saving you a bit from fatigue.