Sthl chainsaw review
Just hit the 20-hour mark on the Stihl MS 261 C-M and figured I'd share some thoughts.
I've run this saw on oak, maple, pine, and a decent amount of storm cleanup. At this point I think the hype is justified.
Pros:
-Starts ridiculously easy, even after sitting for a week.
-M-Tronic actually works. No messing with carb adjustments when the weather changes.
-Plenty of power for a 50cc class saw. It'll happily pull an 18" bar all day.
-Excellent balance. You notice it after a few hours of limbing—less fatigue than my old Husky.
-Fuel economy is surprisingly good.
Cons:
-Price. You're definitely paying the "pro saw" tax.
-Plastic captive bar nuts feel a little cheap compared to the rest of the saw.
- Stock chain was just okay. Swapped to a full-chisel chain and it woke the saw up.
One thing that surprised me was how smooth it cuts. The anti-vibration system is excellent. After spending an afternoon bucking logs, my hands weren't buzzing like they used to be with older saws.
Would I recommend it? If you're cutting a couple of trees a year, probably not. A homeowner saw will do everything you need for a lot less money.
But if you heat with wood, own acreage, or run a saw every weekend, this thing earns its keep. It's one of those tools where you stop thinking about the tool and just get work done.
Final rating: 9.5/10
The only reason it's not a perfect 10 is the price. Performance-wise, it's about as close to the ideal 50cc chainsaw as I've used.
Curious what everyone else is running these days. Anyone still prefer the Husqvarna 550 XP Mark II over the MS 261? I'd love to hear from people who've spent serious time with both.