Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Chainsaws - help me pick a pro level firewood saw

I bought an Echo brush cutter a couple of years ago and I like it. They make good equipment. Its a little easier to start than most of my Stihl stuff but its newer so hard to say its "better". I don't think you could go wrong with either. But if the OP has an Echo servicing dealer close by then yeah I'd check out their saws.

I like my husky 346 xp.... 50cc saw but rips.... it will run a 20" bar which I do because I hate bending over but it's probably best with a 16 or 18. Love that little hot rod.

I had an 044 stihl for years. Good saw. I have a stihl 500I now. What a beast! Husky makes some good saws too

I bought a Stihl at a pawn shop about 15 years ago, MS270 I think. Paid $100. it has been a Beast. rebuilt the engine last year (Stihl shop) the guy at the shop wanted to buy it from me, LOL.

can't beat Stihl

The 261 and 362 are kinda turds. The New Ms400C which is a souped up 362 is a great saw.
There is nothing wrong with Mtronic on the latest saws. In fact it's a good thing for most guys who can't tune a carb to save their lives.

346 Is the best 50cc chainsaw ever made IMO.

I bought a ms-390 about 15 years ago. it came with I think a 24 inch bar. Besides having starting issues its been a pretty good saw. i then put a 20 inch bar on it and it made all the difference. If i can get it started it is a cutting fool.

Youngest picked up a Husqvarna w/16" bar.
I ain't cutting no heavy timber, it'll take down anything I care to tie into.
I can take down trees up to 36/40 inches. That's more than I want to mess with.
Oldest bought a Homelite gas weed eater a couple of years back
It's been a good one.

Just never run that ethanol crap!

I use 100% gas and mix my own or the pre-mix (50:1) in the can.

Buy once, cry once! Stihl 500i is the best power to weight ratio saw Ive ever had on my hands and that's saying something!

Same thing here on getting it started. I have a really low mileage 30 year old Husqvarne xp 266 and for that reason I have considered getting a new Stihl. Are the new saws any easier to start?

I’m an arborist. All we run are Stihl. If I was looking for a good homeowner saw that could cut down a decent sized tree and do great for firewood I’d go with the MS250.

Make sure to use fuel stabilizers or even better, get pre-mixed fuel from a company like VP.

Stihl

We had a Husky rep drop some saws off a few years ago. They [bleep] the bed pretty quick. Our stihls go to the shop too, but usually from honest wear and tear of from rolling around in trucks or the occasional fall from a tree. If you buy a Stihl and take care of it, it should last a homeowner a very long time.

500i will start from cold engine in 3 cranks, whether its Zero or 100 degrees.

I've had and run both Stihl and Husqvarna over the years.

Can't really say I can tell a difference in how they cut, but it's my experience the Husky starts easier, both from the first start to restarting after chain repair, refueling etc. after it's hot.

Won't cut much if it's not running...

I’m still using Stihl…my interpretation of “pro level” means being able to find parts if something breaks.

I'v got a good Sachs Dolmar-- fast and good. But in talking to some of the local loggers around here , they use Husky's----- Talk to the local loggers in your area.

My dad's is probably about 8 years old or so now. Hard starter as well. I've heard tho - the more recent M-Tronic Stihls start much easier.

Spent 20 years in logging camp in AK, only two saw’s you’ll ever see are Husky and Stihl

Stihl 400
Weight of a 362 but with extra CCs