indiansprings
Firewood Purveyor
Often you read reviews and watch videos on here of brand new saws, basically in out of the box condition. I have had the opportunity to own a lot of different saws over the last 30 years, some used, but I've bought the majority of them new. Unlike the PNW guys, I've never really had two saws of the same size, identical models, with one being well broke in and one new out of the box at the same time.
I have a MS 261 that is well broke in, all the paint is wore off the bar, prolly has had 150 tanks plus through it, I could not be more pleased with any saw, a couple weeks ago I sold my 346xpne and bought another MS261, based off our employees as well as myself believing that the 261 fits our needs much better than the 346. Today was the first time I had a chance to send a day running both saws....I put new loops of .325 RSC 18" on both saws. It was really hard to fathom the difference between the saws. I don't wear a watch while out in the woods, didn't time the difference, but the difference was like daylight and dark. The saw that had the pizz run out out it felt like it was at least 25% stronger, that is just a guestimate, but tomorrow after church I'm going to try to get some video of side by side performance.
Bottom line, with any new saw you are watching on here, you are prolly not seeing the real performance potential of the saw. I know with all the Stihl saw's I've owned it always seems like they continue to get better for each tank run until you run 15-20 tanks through them. No matter what brand you buy, don't judge the saw based on the out of the box performance, give it a chance to break in, and don't compare it to the timed cuts, vids of some of the saws you see on here, many are well broke in, muffler modded, ported or running close to race chain.
It was a real eye opener, I would have not believed the difference if I had not expierenced it myself, two identical saws, dead stock, one just walking away from the other, both tuned the same, running identical wot rpms. The only real difference one is "broke" in and the other still burning the finish on the muffler. Just saying if you buy a saw and don't see it duplicating all the claims and reviews on here, don't be surprised, give the saw a chance to break in. Don't expect them to cut cookies like you see some of the same models doing on here, never know how many hours/broke in/mods that your watching.
I have a MS 261 that is well broke in, all the paint is wore off the bar, prolly has had 150 tanks plus through it, I could not be more pleased with any saw, a couple weeks ago I sold my 346xpne and bought another MS261, based off our employees as well as myself believing that the 261 fits our needs much better than the 346. Today was the first time I had a chance to send a day running both saws....I put new loops of .325 RSC 18" on both saws. It was really hard to fathom the difference between the saws. I don't wear a watch while out in the woods, didn't time the difference, but the difference was like daylight and dark. The saw that had the pizz run out out it felt like it was at least 25% stronger, that is just a guestimate, but tomorrow after church I'm going to try to get some video of side by side performance.
Bottom line, with any new saw you are watching on here, you are prolly not seeing the real performance potential of the saw. I know with all the Stihl saw's I've owned it always seems like they continue to get better for each tank run until you run 15-20 tanks through them. No matter what brand you buy, don't judge the saw based on the out of the box performance, give it a chance to break in, and don't compare it to the timed cuts, vids of some of the saws you see on here, many are well broke in, muffler modded, ported or running close to race chain.
It was a real eye opener, I would have not believed the difference if I had not expierenced it myself, two identical saws, dead stock, one just walking away from the other, both tuned the same, running identical wot rpms. The only real difference one is "broke" in and the other still burning the finish on the muffler. Just saying if you buy a saw and don't see it duplicating all the claims and reviews on here, don't be surprised, give the saw a chance to break in. Don't expect them to cut cookies like you see some of the same models doing on here, never know how many hours/broke in/mods that your watching.
