Which mid-range STIHL?? Long Post Beware.

[Knuckles]

Hi Guys. I'm new here. I've been watching for a while and decided to post.

I'm buying my first saw this weekend.

A little about me. I'm 29yo. I've been using chainsaws since I was 12. Felled my first tree with a Frontier. Anyone remember those? My grandfather had a Frontier and a Pioneer. The Frontier died years ago and was replaced with a Stihl 009. The Pioneer ran very well, but was sold when my grandfather passed way in 2003. Up until now, I've always had to borrow someone else's saw.
Lately I had been using my Father-in-laws MS 280. Boy, does that stink? Try having to always get along with your in-laws so you can use their equipment.

Anyway, now that I have my own property it's time to make the purchase. I'm definately buying a Stihl. Husy's are nice, but I'll never support a company that sells through a big box store. Besides, I have family that owns a lawn & garden shop and they've been a Stihl dealer since the early nineties. I'll support them.

I'm looking for a saw that'll pull a 20" bar comfortably. I originally was looking to get the MS290. But what throws me off is the price. It's very cheap compared to the other mid-range Stihls.

What else would you guys recommend? Price is somewhat of a concern. Keep it under $500.

 

[davefr]

It's simple. Up your budget to $600 and get an MS361.

 

[XJWoody]

Ramen noodles and cheap beer for a few more weeks then a new MS361???

Really though, if you're not going to be using it for full-time pro use, and are realistic about how big a bar you need it to pull (like say 20" max), there isn't anything really wrong with a 290.

If I'd have never found this site, I'd have been perfectly OK forever with a Husky 41 16" and a 029 Super 16"+20" (older version of MS290) All too late for that now...

 

[bigjake]

You are here now skip it all and get over and done with it go buy a 260
361 660 880 and just be done with it its going to happen if you stay here anyway. Oh wait i have one

Im just messin with you . But you will find info out of this world here .


BEWARE GET YOUR CAD SHOT NOW I REPEAT DO NOT WAIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[chowdozer]

Depends a little on how much you're going to cut too. If you were going to cut 20 cord a year I'd say get a 361, if you have to scrimp and save in a few other areas of your life. If you're looking at a cord or two a year, get a 290 or 310. Some of the older Stihl's that have cut a cord or so a year have outlasted their parts source, like my dad's 015L from the mid 70's.

Get some chaps too.

 

[Hlakegollum]

My local dealer had 361 on sale for about $530, if not that get 260. my 2 cents.

 

[Stihl051master]

Well,
How do you like the MS280 you have been borrowing? That would be a possibility in your price range. For a 20" bar, and under your price requirement of 500, there are a few options. I'd look at how much you plan on using it. If it's honestly only occasionally, save some cash and get a 290 or a 310 (I know the price difference in only about $30 here). If you are going to be using it a lot I would suggest saving up for a while and get the 361.

Another possibility is to get the 290 or 310, use the crap out of it but keep it clean, and then sell it for almost what you paid for it and then upgrade to a bigger saw later when you are ready. Clean used 290s routinely go on ebay for close to $300. This option would get you a nice new saw to use for now, and then down the road if you wanted more power you wouldn't lose much on it at all.

 

[superfire]

saw idea

MS 310 20" bar and semi skip chain

 

[Knuckles]

Well,
How do you like the MS280 you have been borrowing? That would be a possibility in your price range. For a 20" bar, and under your price requirement of 500, there are a few options. I'd look at how much you plan on using it. If it's honestly only occasionally, save some cash and get a 290 or a 310 (I know the price difference in only about $30 here). If you are going to be using it a lot I would suggest saving up for a while and get the 361.

Another possibility is to get the 290 or 310, use the crap out of it but keep it clean, and then sell it for almost what you paid for it and then upgrade to a bigger saw later when you are ready. Clean used 290s routinely go on ebay for close to $300. This option would get you a nice new saw to use for now, and then down the road if you wanted more power you wouldn't lose much on it at all.

Well, it's not bad. It has an 18" on it. A 20 is about as big as I'd go on that saw. I'm looking for a little more power than that. I'm really leaning toward the 310 at the moment.

Thanks for the replies. Keep'm coming

 

[panic button]

I picked up a used 360 Pro with 20+ chains for $250 off a CL. Sometimes it pays to buy used.

 

[aandabooks]

310 with 18" b/c. Bought mine a year ago and hasn't been unable to cut anything yet. Including the 32" elm I cut up this past weekend.

 

[Stihl here]

MS310 would be a good choice!

 

[pbuehning]

There are allot of AS members making sense here. The real key is being honest about the quantity and size of wood you're gonna cut. If you're not cutting for a living or heating your house there's nothing wrong with the 290. (Note: 290 bashers will arrive shortly - pay them no mind). With a little care and maintenance it will last a looooong time and you'll be happy UNLESS somewhere along the way you pick up a 361. I repeat - if you buy a 290 do not P/U a 361 or your plan to be frugal will be over.

Good luck and let us know what you do.

 

[nilzlofgren]

Hi Guys. I'm new here. I've been watching for a while and decided to post.

I'm buying my first saw this weekend.

A little about me. I'm 29yo. I've been using chainsaws since I was 12. Felled my first tree with a Frontier. Anyone remember those? My grandfather had a Frontier and a Pioneer. The Frontier died years ago and was replaced with a Stihl 009. The Pioneer ran very well, but was sold when my grandfather passed way in 2003. Up until now, I've always had to borrow someone else's saw.
Lately I had been using my Father-in-laws MS 280. Boy, does that stink? Try having to always get along with your in-laws so you can use their equipment.

Anyway, now that I have my own property it's time to make the purchase. I'm definately buying a Stihl. Husy's are nice, but I'll never support a company that sells through a big box store. Besides, I have family that owns a lawn & garden shop and they've been a Stihl dealer since the early nineties. I'll support them.

I'm looking for a saw that'll pull a 20" bar comfortably. I originally was looking to get the MS290. But what throws me off is the price. It's very cheap compared to the other mid-range Stihls.

What else would you guys recommend? Price is somewhat of a concern. Keep it under $500.

I'm confused. You dont want to spend over $500, but the 290 is too cheap. The midrange family of saws are all the same, just a different bore. Get the 290 if price is an issue. As has been said many times before, the 290 is a great saw for what you want. Also, if you family sells Stihls, can't they get you a deal?

 

[TreePointer]

There are allot of AS members making sense here. The real key is being honest about the quantity and size of wood you're gonna cut. If you're not cutting for a living or heating your house there's nothing wrong with the 290. (Note: 290 bashers will arrive shortly - pay them no mind). With a little care and maintenance it will last a looooong time and you'll be happy UNLESS somewhere along the way you pick up a 361. I repeat - if you buy a 290 do not P/U a 361 or your plan to be frugal will be over.

Good luck and let us know what you do.

:agree2:

Without knowing more details about what you're cutting and how much, I'd say get the 290 and use the extra cash to get some PPE if you don't already have it.

If you'll be in the woods for hours cutting, get the 361.

 

[gink595]

Buy the 310, it's a decent saw. I've owned one and ran the piss out of it. It will do fine even if you do cut a bunch. I keep hearing that if you don't cut much it should be okay, I say the hell with that. It will last even if you do cut a bunch.

 

[banjobart]

I vote for the new MS280.

Or a 361.

I have an 026 because if a back injury and surgery that kind of worked. 2 lbs. less weight is important for me but it will not matter to a 29 year old like yourself. If I did not have a bad back I would run a 280 or 361.

There was a nice used 360 on Craigs List here last Saturday for $150. I noticed it disappeared in a half hour. Helluva deal for a CL watcher. I saw a perfect Suzuki DMZ125 dirt bike for $500 the week before, it lasted 10 minutes. Both these items werre listed for a third of their value.

 

[nitro]

361 ....
buy it once and than give it to your kid ,my 036 is 11 years old ,i ran the piss out of it and i just rebuilt it for about 200 bucks and she'll be good for another 11

its worth the extra bucks


P.S. -------HA HA YOU GOT CAD.....!!!!!!!

 

[nmurph]

buy a 310, open the muffler. you will be pushing about the same power as the 361 and have enough jingle in your pocket for PPE. oh yeah, it will weigh about 18-20oz more. if that difference scares you off of the 310, i understand. if you still aren't happy with the 310 after a year, you can sell it and get 90+% of your money back.

 

[Knuckles]

I'm confused. You dont want to spend over $500, but the 290 is too cheap. The midrange family of saws are all the same, just a different bore. Get the 290 if price is an issue. As has been said many times before, the 290 is a great saw for what you want. Also, if you family sells Stihls, can't they get you a deal?

Sorry for the confusion. I was trying to point out, I was a little skeptical as to why such the price difference with the 290. And yes, depending on negotiations, I may be able to get a higher end saw for a good price.

As for the amount of cutting? About 5-6 truck loads a year, give or take.

(Note: 290 bashers will arrive shortly - pay them no mind).

Why? Please be honest. What's the 290s short falls? My curiousity is piqued