New Stihl saw purchase

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mtown

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I have decided my 041 is just too heavy for my old bones on a regular basis. I am considering a new 241 or 261.
No, I am not a pro, and don't use every day.

The extra $$ for a pro level saw does not bother me as I will own it for a long time.
Any input is welcome. Please don't tell me about all the safety features on the non pro saws though.
 
I’m no expert but the differences are a better carburetor and maybe some of the wear points are beefed up on the pro saws. There really are no different safety features. I personally can’t stand anything smaller than a 461 but I’m using them daily to pay my bills
 
Thanks for the responses. I will be cutting small 8-10" trees and firewood [ up to 30" felled oak]. I can still us the 041 for big stuff. I was planning on a 16" bar on the new saw.
From what I can see the 241 weighs 9.9# and the 261 is 10.3#. I heard from the dealer the 261 has been around a longer time. I like tried and true.
 
If you can swing the cash I would get the 261. It's about the same weight as a 241 and should be a better saw. But if you don't want to spend the cash then I'm sure the 241 will give you years of successful cutting. If it were me I would find a nice used 261 for a price I like but I don't spend a lot of money on saws.

As far as 30 inch oak both saws are a bit light for that job.
 
Thanks for the responses. I will be cutting small 8-10" trees and firewood [ up to 30" felled oak]. I can still us the 041 for big stuff. I was planning on a 16" bar on the new saw.
From what I can see the 241 weighs 9.9# and the 261 is 10.3#. I heard from the dealer the 261 has been around a longer time. I like tried and true.
A Stihl MS261 with an 18" bar(18" is most common bar around)
 
261 hands down, 16 or 18 inch we run a 20 on one of ours for a lighter climbing saw when you have the occasional big cut when you are taking the top out of a tree. It pulls fairly well for a 3/8 20" would be better with .325 but I had no 325 20"bars...

When it comes time to saw a 30" log with a 261 slap a 20" bar on with a good chain and she'll do just fine for the occasional project. Some people here try to sell you on the "proper size" saw for the job but if it's an occasional thing you'll get by fine. As an example back in the day b4 my tree service days when I was in my teens my dad had a mculloch 3200 with a 16" bar i cut an already felled 48" oak tree on one occasion and fully removed a 50" silver maple with it out of a genie boom lift. Was it pleasurable? No not really but it got done.

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