Dan'l Boone
ArboristSite Lurker
ETA - I've been all over this board and others the past week
Currently running a refurb cheapie 14" Homelite, Dad has a Pioneer 1200A that still runs good but has seen better days, Brother has a MS180 that he bought in the past year.
We own 60 forested acres that we call a hunting camp, it's also the family get-away. We burn maybe 4 full cords a year indoors, and maybe another two outside sitting around the fire ring.
With the saws we own, we typically limit our prospective firewood to around 12", almost all hardwood (oak, hickory, beech) standing dead or fallen, on occasion we have to remove fallen trees from trails and roads that exceed 20". For instance, we had a 36" black oak fall across our driveway twenty foot from the gate, 1/2 mile from the cabin. We would have had to turn around for home had we not had the pioneer hidden safely in the cabin (don't ask).
I want a saw to replace the pioneer (it'll still reside at the cabin for emergencies), it's heavy and semi-hard to start especially in cold weather, we rarely get it out except when we need the bigger saw or find a surprise like the tree in the road.
I'm 40 and want a saw that'll last me 20-30 years, Dad's had the pioneer some 35 and it still does what we ask of it.
On occasion, I need the saw at home, Ike and this years ice storm called out the saw more than usual.
Plus, I just want a new saw and it's going to be a Stihl.
Here's my thoughts on the local dealer's in-stock:
A) MS290 20" - good price, heavy, bulky, I'm sure it would do what we need.
B) MS260 20" - a bit more, lighter, pro-saw, I like it.
C) MS361 20" - a bit more again, and would do more than I expect to ever need.
D) Save my money and use what we have, it's worked so far.
I can afford any of these but the MS361 is pushing it.
Currently running a refurb cheapie 14" Homelite, Dad has a Pioneer 1200A that still runs good but has seen better days, Brother has a MS180 that he bought in the past year.
We own 60 forested acres that we call a hunting camp, it's also the family get-away. We burn maybe 4 full cords a year indoors, and maybe another two outside sitting around the fire ring.
With the saws we own, we typically limit our prospective firewood to around 12", almost all hardwood (oak, hickory, beech) standing dead or fallen, on occasion we have to remove fallen trees from trails and roads that exceed 20". For instance, we had a 36" black oak fall across our driveway twenty foot from the gate, 1/2 mile from the cabin. We would have had to turn around for home had we not had the pioneer hidden safely in the cabin (don't ask).
I want a saw to replace the pioneer (it'll still reside at the cabin for emergencies), it's heavy and semi-hard to start especially in cold weather, we rarely get it out except when we need the bigger saw or find a surprise like the tree in the road.
I'm 40 and want a saw that'll last me 20-30 years, Dad's had the pioneer some 35 and it still does what we ask of it.
On occasion, I need the saw at home, Ike and this years ice storm called out the saw more than usual.
Plus, I just want a new saw and it's going to be a Stihl.
Here's my thoughts on the local dealer's in-stock:
A) MS290 20" - good price, heavy, bulky, I'm sure it would do what we need.
B) MS260 20" - a bit more, lighter, pro-saw, I like it.
C) MS361 20" - a bit more again, and would do more than I expect to ever need.
D) Save my money and use what we have, it's worked so far.
I can afford any of these but the MS361 is pushing it.
Last edited:
.
Plus you can run a 25" bar should you ever need it. 
