Good stihl saw for cutting 5 cords/year

[Vic99]

Had a ms290 farm boss forever, but it’s getting old. Giving it to my brother. If I want a similar Stihl, will I get similar performance from an Ms 291? Can I get a less expensive for similar? Will use a 16 inch bar, likely. I’m sticking will Stihl brand. Thanks.

 

[DodgyNomad]

Had a ms290 farm boss forever, but it’s getting old. Giving it to my brother. If I want a similar Stihl, will I get similar performance from an Ms 291? Can I get a less expensive for similar? Will use a 16 inch bar, likely. I’m sticking will Stihl brand. Thanks.

Yes, should be very similar in performance.

 

[MissMac]

I run a MS261 and love it. It's got more than enough jam to run a 16" bar, and it's lightweight.

 

[JimBear]

Can I get a less expensive for similar? Will use a 16 inch bar, likely. I’m sticking will Stihl brand. Thanks.

The 271 will pull a 16” bar easily. It may be a bit less expensive than the 291, it is 5cc smaller but the weight appears to be the same. I used a 16”, 18” & 20” on my 271 and didn’t have any problems running .325” chain. A 271 it will pull the 3/8” chain on a 16” & 18” but would be too much on a 20”.

 

[Diabel]

Please spend the extra $$ on a 261cm. You will be the happiest wood cutter in town!

 

[CincyBurner]

+1 with Diabel + MissMac
MS 261 is 1.5# lighter (13% difference) than MS 271 with a .4 kW increase (14% increase) in engine power.

The 261 even has more power than the MS 291, but ~$100 more.​

At 5 cd per year you're using it enough that you'd probably appreciate the difference.

 

[ratsrepus]

after cutting for 40 years with one of my trusty 041 the original farm boss. I have four, I bought a new 391 stihl, dont see much difference.

 

[Tar12]

I run a pair of 260 pros with 3/8 full chisel chain on a 16 in bar....cutting fools! They get used more than any other saw I own!

 

[Prof]

I run a MS261 and love it. It's got more than enough jam to run a 16" bar, and it's lightweight.

My 261 is my go-to saw. I can't say enough good things about it. As close to a light saber as I suspect I will ever come.

 

[Sawset]

Ms260pro
Feels like a toy.
But maybe that's the point.
Plenty of nads to bust through rounds.
Nice and light to handle all day.
2/3 of most trees around here seem to be limbs. Then spend an hour cutting the trunk. Like the airplane jive talkers skit "lay it oown, take it to da boonne.

 

[brenndatomu]

I was just gonna say 261...but looks like you fellers got it covered here...carry on...

 

[Yosef]

I just helped a neighbor cut a couple trees down and in to rounds. He has an older farm boss and I have MS 250 or 251 and was impressed at how well my "little" saw did compared to his. Seemed like mine chewed through everything as good or better than the farm boss that I have envied for so long. Of course my chain was sharp and he was running a new chain so I think it was a reasonable comparison. I really appreciate the lighter weight of the smaller saw as well.

 

[SpaceBus]

A sharp chain on a 50cc saw would probably be great for 90% of chainsaw owners. Light weight is more important than higher power, especially for someone that doesn't use a chainsaw almost every day.

 

[mustash29]

I went from a POS Crapsman / Remington Pro 55 cc 18" to a Stihl 271 16". 5 cc less, about the same power but better quality. 2 years later I bought a 64.5 cc 391 20" for the big stuff.

I guess in a perfect world something like a 40 cc and a 65 cc would be a good combo.

In my research, the 271/291 are the same saw, just with a different cylinder/piston combo. Same deal with the 311/391.

I stayed with the farm/ranch series since I only cut 2-3 cd/yr.

 

[Hoytman]

after cutting for 40 years with one of my trusty 041 the original farm boss. I have four, I bought a new 391 stihl, dont see much difference.

I have my dad’s old 041 farm boss that we used when I was a kid. I run 3/8 full chisel on a 16” bar and it’s a torque monster. Also have my grandpa’s old S10 that is like new...and it will stay that way.

Looking to retire them both and replace with a new equivalent of the 041. Suggestions welcomed.

 

[salecker]

I have my dad’s old 041 farm boss that we used when I was a kid. I run 3/8 full chisel on a 16” bar and it’s a torque monster. Also have my grandpa’s old S10 that is like new...and it will stay that way.

Looking to retire them both and replace with a new equivalent of the 041. Suggestions welcomed.

MS362 would be around the same cutting ability, and a good all round saw that should last like the 041.
It will be a little lighter as well

 

[xman23]

My 260 pro with a 18 inch bar has done 3 cords a year for 20 years. Power still feels like it's new. It's treated well, always razor sharp chains, and the Stihl synthetic oil mix. Are the Pro saws better, don't know. Love the decompression. I'd look at the power weight ratio. I think the CM is now working, so something consider. Don't go bigger/ heaver than you need.

 

[Nealm66]

I believe the pro models have gotten slightly more power and rpms then what they were 20 years ago. I don’t feel they will hold up to a less than very sharp chain quite as well as the older models. Just my gut feeling on them when I’m running them. Pretty common to modify stock pro model saws for pro use and they will hold up pretty well as long as they are ran with good chains and not over reved out of the wood too often. I’ve seen a few older 260’s in pretty good shape for a decent price and also, older 26 is good too but may need to update some of the rubbers for the new alcohol gas.

 

[salecker]

Every saw benefits from a sharp chain.
New saws are way more user friendly then the old ones,better anti vibe.

 

[Deets]

If it’s a one saw plan, I prefer 60cc class saw. Wether you go 50cc or 60cc, a pro saw has a few advantages over the home owner versions.
Better engine design
Better port type, layout, and shape.
Much easier to take apart for service or cleaning.
And better power to weight ratio.

 

[SpaceBus]

If it’s a one saw plan, I prefer 60cc class saw. Wether you go 50cc or 60cc, a pro saw has a few advantages over the home owner versions.
Better engine design
Better port type, layout, and shape.
Much easier to take apart for service or cleaning.
And better power to weight ratio.

A pro 50cc or "Landowner" 60cc are great choices. Knowing what I do now I would have gotten a 50cc auto tune saw instead of my boat anchor 460!

 

[Deets]

A pro 50cc or "Landowner" 60cc are great choices. Knowing what I do now I would have gotten a 50cc auto tune saw instead of my boat anchor 460!

460 isn’t even a good boat anchor...

just sayin!

 

[SpaceBus]

460 isn’t even a good boat anchor...

just sayin!

It did cut some nice boards for me about a month ago. Slow going, but it did work. Hopefully in the next month or two I'll get my xs346 fixed up.

 

[Sean McGillicuddy]

Had a ms290 farm boss forever, but it’s getting old. Giving it to my brother. If I want a similar Stihl, will I get similar performance from an Ms 291? Can I get a less expensive for similar? Will use a 16 inch bar, likely. I’m sticking will Stihl brand. Thanks.

Hmm has he forgotten this thread ?

 

[Deets]

It did cut some nice boards for me about a month ago. Slow going, but it did work. Hopefully in the next month or two I'll get my xs346 fixed up.

Have you had any run time on that XS 346?
That’s one of the most impressive 50cc saws you’ll likely ever come across.