What's everybody Packin'...................

Here is a pic of the two saws in the truck today. Darn I forgot to mention the gun. A plain old S&W;681 revolver. Stainless, fixed sites, and simple. The lil saw is the 280 and the other is the 441. I put the 30" bar on for the picture.

I have a Homelite 160 16" /bar.

...I got a large echo, almost 50 c.c. and have 2 bars 18" and 20" and have 5 chains....always ready to go. If i could just keep the saw in my possession ...friends are always borrowing it, cause i do sharpen my own chains. Wish i had it now.

I do have the oregon clamp on chain sharpener and it works quite well unless you damage the rakers(I think they are called) then the chain has to be professionally sharpened for $6

42cc poulan pro, and ms460magnum stihl 70and some change cc's on the stihl

oilstinks said:

42cc poulan pro, and ms460magnum stihl 70and some change cc's on the stihl

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ok oil stinks thats 77.5cc ported

WoodMann said:

Really it's the chain that makes the saw........................

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Truer words never spoken. Most people, meaning the average firewood cutter doesn't realize that there is pro chain and homeowner chain. Homeowner chain means safety chain and sharpen and tighten constantly. Pro chain contains alot of chrome in it and there fore its a harder chain, doesn't stretch and holds an edge like no ones business. Its hard to sharpen with a file its so hard. Actually if you shop around the pro chain is usually cheaper too. Woodsman Pro chain made by Carlton is awesome chain that we have used commercially for years and years, sold at Baileys.com. A 18" loop of Woodsman Pro for $9.95 is way cheaper than I can buy a homeowner chain in the box stores.

Oh yeah.....Echo CS-400, Stihl 028, Ruger 357 Blackhawk flat top

026 pro stihl 18 inch bar ........................ love it best all around light saw

044 pro stihl 24 ich bar ............................. comming soon ..................... can't wait my old 044 with 18" bar has lost its balls after 20+ years of great service

088 Magnum pro with 36" bar from Stihl ........................................ it you take a butter knife heat it with your map gas torch, and then when it is nice and red hot cut a hunk of butter in half ..................... thats what this saw does,its the HOT KNIFE , as I refer to it, nobody runs this saw but me. Will cut 32" shag bark hickory in half in little over 1 minute!

Can't agree more! the chain is the key!

I'm using a Stihl ms 290 & 180. I currently contemplating a good felling saw. I looked at the Dolmars.......... but I don't know.

My first chainsaw... it was a proud moment.

Husqvarna 142... I use it to limb abd fell smaller stuff while my brother in law uses his stihl (290 i think) for the bigger stuff.


Gonna have to look into one of the better chains now...

I just bought the biggest chain saw that my john deere tractor dealer sold...I did have a john deere tractor and this dealership had an excellant policy dealing with problems under warranty...So I ended up with an Echo 49 c.c 20"bar chainsaw... the very next year my john deere dealership swithched to Stil...I think i miss spelled the name, but the Echo is excellant and can be worked on, and it still runs like a tree monster...so I am satisfied with the product....

Dolmar 5100 S 3/8 with either a 16 or 20 inch bar.

First saw, and I think it'll be my last for a long long time....

Have an Echo 500VL probably 25 years old. It is a great saw, I can't kill it. I have abused and neglected it and it goes on year after year.

I have a Husky 345 with a 16" bar that I used to saw my first 10 cords with this year. Up until then it was all the saw I really needed. Before the next load of wood I'll be buying something bigger, either a 359 or a 357XP. I found myself waiting when cutting through the hard stuff, especially 20+ inch rock maple. I've tried a 359 and it's definitely got some nuts. I will see if I can try a 357XP before making a purchase.

I just broke in a Stihl MS270 with an 18" bar.

I carry my Beretta 92 usually. Sometimes I carry my Glock 22 but I'm a better shot with the 92.

I use a McCulloch PRO MAC 10-10 that my dad used for 25 plus years, and it starts just like the day he got it out of the box, can you say animal !!.

The first year collecting firewood I got by with my dad's Stihl MS210. Then I found this forum and the AS forum and for some reason I now have:

Stihl MS361
Dolmar 5100s
Makita 6401 + 7900 cyl/piston kit

Echo CS-440 with an 18" bar. It cuts my wood. Can't complain.

My new Stihl MS290 (20" bar) is still being broken in.

I know that many pros here aren't impressed with them.

I'm a hobbyist firewood cutter/splitter who lives on a wooded lot. When Ivan's remains blew through N.E.Ohio, several trees blew down in the neighborhood. My old Craftsman saw finally pissed me off for the last time. I chucked it and went to the Stihl dealer.

What I love: Tool-free gas and oil caps. (The craftsman saw needed pliers to open)
Solid runner (The carb adjusters on the craftsman vibrated out of adjustment constantly)
Good power.

What I don't: Yes, it's a little heavy. I can feel the burn after a few hours of work. Not a deal breaker IMO.


For me, the 290 is plenty of saw, and I suspect it will serve me well for the forseeable future.

Husky 372XP for a saw. My everyday heat is a Ruger SP101 .357.

usually my 280, but i use all of my saws. and for everyday packing it is my S&W;642 38 Crimson trace grips.

I'm running a Sthil 440 now. Need a new small saw tough.

If I do pack a gun, and I'm proud of this thing, it is a Colt .45 1911 "Gold Cup National Match" converted to a compensated, extended mag (8 in the clip rather than the normal 7) "Street Fighter". All the work was done by Bill Wilson himself at Wilson Combat at Berryville, AR in 1986 when all he had was a small shop and 3 helpers. It is one of those guns that will fire almost any .45 ammo with out jamming. The way it feels in your hand is real natural and that makes it easy to hit your mark. My wife is even good with it. This is one of those guns you have to shoot to know what a fine handgun is.

http://www.wilsoncombat.com/

The gun was a retirement gift to my dad from Mr. J.B. Hunt. Dad was one of the first truck mechanics Mr. Hunt hired.