Which Stihl chainsaw

[Bob - MI]

I am an occasional user but I like well made equipment. I am thinking about a Stihl saw but I am struggling with the decision to get the MS250 or the MS290.

I like the lighter weight and slightly smaller size of the 250 but the 290 has more power and it comes with a $49.00 case. They are about $100.00 apart retail.

I am thinking about an 18" bar.

The snowfall that we just got has all the trees drooping and a bunch are closing off my driveway. It's firewood time!!

Thanks for your opinions!

Bob

 

[kevinj54]

Look at the pro series. Mine is a 260 pro. The pro series have compression release and adjustable oiling

 

[Goose]

If you go with the MS-250, get one with "Easy Start". It's $40 more, but well worth not having to fight compression when starting.

The way it works is, when you pull the start rope, you're not turning the engine over, you're winding a spring. Then when you release the rope the spring unwinds and spins the engine over. I have one and I love it.

The dealer I bought it from said he sells a lot of them to women, and had sold one to an uncle of his who kept throwing his back out trying to start a standard saw.

 

[G.Fields]

Chainsaws fall into the same rules that trucks and tractors do. A big one will do everything a little one will, and then some. Have you ever bought anything, and thought "man i wish this didnt have so much power"? I know i havent.

 

[Anonymous-0]

I have a MS250 and MS310. If your going to just cut small wood the ms250 is fine. Mine came with 18" bar and didn't like it. I dropped down to a 16"bar whitch seems to cut better. I bought the ms310 over the ms290. The ms310 and ms290 are basicly the same saw only the ms310 has a little more power and not much differance in price. If I am cleaning up downed tops I use a Echo 3400 top handle with a 12"bar and it will cut everything up to 10" with no problems.

 

[Duane(Pa)]

Whatever you buy, insist that the dealer tune the saw richer than factory setting. The EPA has got these 2 stroke manufactures so strangled on emissions that they have to lean out to un-healthy levels. (un-healthy for the saw)A lean 2 stroke runs hot and meltdowns are more common than ever. Saws from yesteryear run for decades, saws of today run weeks, months or if you are lucky years. Simple carb adjustment can change that. Did I say insist?

 

[Gun guru]

Get the 290, you wont be disappointed.
More is better, Wimpy chainsaws are almost useless.

 

[KIP in MX]

I have a MS261 with an 18" bar that runs great. It has the compression release, but I"ve never used it. Go with the pro line and spend the extra bucks for a better saw.

 

[fixerupper]

Goose, I have one of them too and I had to re-train my brain on how to start a saw, but it's so easy now. You pull up kind of slow and easy, let up on the rope and the saw comes to life. Simple as that! Jim

 

[Doug in Illinois]

I have 3 Stihl chainsaws. My biggest one is the MS390 with 20 inch bar. Next step down is the MS310, also 20 inch bar.

I prefer the 390. It has compression release and is just easier to start.

Of course it is nice to have a little saw for trimming work. It is a 029 with a 16 inch bar.

The extra 4 inch of bar makes a big difference, along with the extra power.

Get the bigger one. DOUG

 

[Aaron Halfmann]

If you're thinking about and 18" bar you better go with the 290. I had an old 025 stihl witch is same as Ms250 the are rated to handle 18" bars but don't do it well. My new saw is a 310 stihl with a 20" bar cuts all I need.

 

[RodinNS]

I would suggest you go with an MS361 instead... It's a bit smaller than the 290 but the 361 is a pro saw rather than the mid grade saw that you get with the 290. 361 will probably be a bunch more money but you'll probably find it a more durable saw.
If not, and you must choose from the pair you list, go with the 290. At least it'll not be working as hard as the smaller one.

Rod

 

[JML755]

I agree with Rod, the MS361 is a great saw. But I think the model # is MS 362 now. Works great with an 18 " bar and isn't too heavy/bulky.

 

[rick2 in ohio]

i have a ms361 and it is a great saw i would recommend it to anyone.
RICK

 

[Jay Furlong]

I have 3 Stihl saws. A little .015L for limbing, a .021 for small work, & the new Farm Boss 290 w/20" bar for bigger stuff. My favorite is the 021, easy to handle, easy to start, very easy on fuel. Farm Boss uses 4 tanks to the 021 1, & it will almost keep up.

 

[Stephen Newell]

I for one am not impressed with Stihl. I've had four chainsaws in my life and the best two were McCulloch. One of the McCulloch saws was stolen and the other I wore out over many years. Where I live the McCulloch saws don't seem to be available anywhere so I bought a Stihl MS280. It's a lot harder to start and the chain won't stay one it. Then when you go to shut it off I have to flood it because the off switch doesn't work. I hate to see it when it's three or more years old.

 

[tommy_harrell]

I picked up a ms311 it has an adjustable oiler and compression release, currently running a 20" bar. I really like it, just to big for the tractor cab. So the wife let me get another, ms170 and a 16" bar. Now I have a pair of nice saws that should last a lifetime.

Local dealer had a deal; ms311, extra chain, case and a hat... if you buy a 6 pack "Stihl HP Ultra they double the warranty.

Tommy

 

[woodbutcher]

I like my MS-250 with the 16" bar, no compression release. It has quirks that are different from my old .031AV, but I"ve gotten used to the compression I feel when I crank it.
Butch

 

[Anonymous-0]

(quoted from post at 04:18:39 01/16/12) I like my MS-250 with the 16" bar, no compression release. It has quirks that are different from my old .031AV, but I"ve gotten used to the compression I feel when I crank it.
Butch

I Like mine too..Was thinking about a 290 so I'd have two saws but the biggest I would ever cut would be a foot and it would already be felled. limbed, and laying on the side of the access road...... Can buy chunks from the sawmill in town and in the next cheap and a local guy delivers stove ready wood cheaper than I can buy from the county and cut/split my own.... so, I think my wood cutting days are over unless somkeone figures how to put more hours in a day and a few more days in a month.....

But, to answer the original ???? the ms250 is real nice and 3 pounds lighter than the 290....

 

[prawnfarmer]

Does your dealer have the newer MS-291? Same power/cc's as the MS-290 yet weighs about a pound less.
I've had really good luck with a MS-310 but now use a MS-362 with a 20" full chisel chain. Feels like a 300hp engine in a 2500# car - will flat out cut some wood if you need that type of production.

 

[Anonymous-0]

Mcullogh guy, you have never obviously used a good saw. I run three stihl saws an oldr 260 a new 441 and a small 018 or whatever they call the small saw that my Dad bought when he could not pull over the 026. There are more used old Mculloughs sitting around or maybe already in the scrap pile than Kraft has cheese as the saying goes. Ask the professional loggers what they use it is Stihl and Husqavarna saws all the way. Our Old Sthils saws have been rniing for 30 plus years, just make sure you empty old gas and clean them up properly once in a while.

 

[RodinNS]

LOL. I was going to say the same thing!
We've got an old Mac around here somewhere. It was a great saw when it ran...
Thus we have Stihl's. Of all the saws they built I think the 038 Super was probably about the best. It's a big heavy **** of a saw... but it's tough. I think ours is probably closing on 30 years old and still going.

Rod

 

[NawlensGator]

I have 3 stihl saws and my favorite go-to saw is the ms-192-TCE. This is the one the arborists use because it is so light and powerful (but pricey). MS 201 T is a newer arborists saw. These light saws really make a difference after several hours of cutting.

 

[johnald]

Unless you cut a lot of wood on a regular basis, go with the 290. I've cut some big trees and cut my way out after katrina with a 290 and 18 inch blade. Since then i've gotten a 460 for big stuff and a top handle for pruning and climbing. We have 6 stihl machines and have never had a problem with any of them.

 

[paul]

Whatever you get, buy soon.....

EPA is pushing hard, I hear Stihl - and the others - are going to computer controlled cumpustion on the chainsawas in a year or 2.

New level of complexity & when it fries, it's dead, no backyard servicing them, laptop to tune them up.....

I have a 310 with a 20 inch bar, and a, um, 009L or some such little older 14 inch, both work well, the 310 is having an oiling issue I need to figure out but good saws, done a lot of work.

Might see if I can post a pic you'll get a kick out of of the 310 this evening.

--->Paul

 

[Cutsit]

My wife bought me a MS250 with the easy start a few years ago. I got the 18" bar.

Things I like:

1. Easy start once I got used to it.
2. Enough power to power the 18" bar.
3. Great service from my local dealer.

Things I don't like:

1. The easy chain adjustment. Too easy to over tighten the chain.
2. Had to have a new automatic oiler installed (not under warranty).
3. The cheesey retainers to the gas and oil caps have broken.

I have a Homelite and a MAC and reach for this one for any work first.

I bought a Stihl limb saw and end up using it for all my small work. You don't have to bend over

 

[cd1]

Your probably die hard stihl but I advise you to check out an Echo CS-500P, or 550 and 600. I always ran stihl around here but went out on a limb and got a CS-600P this last year and have no regrets, pro grade and a 5 year warranty to boot.

 

[Dachshund]

The WORST saw I ever had was an MS290! Thing was junk from the git-go. Spent more time in the shop then working. I have a Poulan that cut more wood then that Stihl! I traded the 290 for a Dolmar - and won't own another Stihl again - EVER.

 

[obH]

I just recently shopped around for a mid range saw and considered both the MS250 and MS290. I considered myself to be a Sthil only guy but after looking hard at the MS250 and MS290 I ended up and bought a Husky 346XP. Granted it was more money than both of those but it won hands down on power, balance and build quality. Both of the Sthil saws have plastic crankcases and seemed to be cheaply made unlike the Husky or the Stihl 025 and 029 of yesteryear.