Stihl 261 vs. Husky 550 XP

[CATDIESEL]

all 4 are very good saws. husky may always be a little quicker/snappier, but reliabilty and build quality will always be stihl, hands down for me. i own/run both brands. i do not believe in the cut, that a 562 will handle a 28" bar buried. it is a 60cc saw anyway you cut it. 28" bars belong on 70+cc saws,a 562 may run it, but there are not too many loggers bucking big trees with 562/28" bars. i am not talking modded saws either, as a 562 modded would not touch a 441rcm modded.

 

[Brian_NC]

I don't see how a person could go wrong with any of the saws mentioned. Stock against stock they are so close, it would take a stopwatch to tell them apart. Myself I prefer the 261 over the 550 simply because I prefer inboard clutches and don't buy into the "sideways balance", or lack thereof, or whatever the argument for them are.

 

[CATDIESEL]

My experience is stock vs. stock. Except maybe a muffler mod on each. Still 550 for me. In a bucking scenario I guess it could go either way. Dropping and limbing 550 all day long.

Which will handle an 18" bar buried, better?

 

[SawTroll]

Husky 550 or 562, never look back.

I don't think there is any doubt left, that those are the winners - and with some margin!

 

[MCW]

Which will handle an 18" bar buried, better?

The 550 is in reality a few generations ahead of the 261. Once the 261 gets M-Tronic it will be close. The 261 always impressed me with it's torque but the 550 has got the same if not more PLUS it revs. I've run 20" 3/8" bars on both in hardwood and softwood with semi and full chisel and the 550 has the 261 stitched in every aspect. The 550 is in a different league altogether.
This isn't some Husky vs. Stihl thing either, just reality until the next version of the 261 hits the market at least.

 

[sunfish]

Never understood the inboard / outboard clutch debate. It doesn't really matter to me, I started running saws in 1977 and have only had one saw with an inboard. If I had to pick one, I'd rather have outboard. :msp_confused:

 

[D&B Mack]

I like the inboard clutch better. I am a Stihl guy. But I think the 550 is all around a better saw; 261 is still a great saw just not at the level of the 550. I ran the 562 in a demo at the shop, loved that saw too but never spent any real time on it. Although, I highly dislike the 362 so to compare the 62 to 562, for me, is unfair. I'd rather put the 61 up against it. But 60cc is the one saw plan so I don't see one in my future anyway.

 

[TK]

Which will handle an 18" bar buried, better?

I run 16" bars on mine. They both run real well like that. I would guess there isn't a whole lot of difference in running 18" bars buried, but I would say the 550 is going to make more cuts before its out of gas. I cut longer with the 550. Either that or I get more cut with it, but it feels longer.

If you're dogging the saw then its time for a dose of sharp and raker adjustment. These saws like an aggressive chain on them.

 

[2rod511]

I have no experience with the 261 or the 550 but I will tell you that the 562 kicks the ####e out of the 362. My old 262xp will clean my dad's 362's clock and it looks like it came out of a dumpster somewhere. The only reason I can see to hate on an outboard clutch is it takes .5 seconds longer to replace a chain.

 

[Andyshine77]

Andy, How do you like the 421.

Well I've only made a few cuts with it so far, I picked it up last Saturday. This coming weekend looks nice, so I hope to give it a good shakedown then. I must say it did impress me when I cut with it. For the quality, power and price point, I don't see any Stihl or Husky coming close to it.

 

[sunfish]

I have no experience with the 261 or the 550 but I will tell you that the 562 kicks the ####e out of the 362. My old 262xp will clean my dad's 362's clock and it looks like it came out of a dumpster somewhere. The only reason I can see to hate on an outboard clutch is it takes .5 seconds longer to replace a chain.

I have a year on a 562xp now and I've got to say it's a hell of a saw! Most impressive stock saw I've ever run and I've run most of them.

 

[VTWoodchuck]

I think that its almost apples to oranges to compare the 261 and 550. Seems that the autotune brings so much to the table that it puts it in a different class. Sure they're both 50cc saws but thats where the similarity ends. I for one prefer the the feel of a stihl over husky. I have a (ahem, cough cough) ported 261, a 440, and a 350. That darn 261 just impresses me more every time I use it. I just love runnin that saw!
I think that at the end of the day it all boils down to what brand you feel attached to. When you're cuttin firewood(for yourself), a couple tenths of a second in a cut don't matter. Its the satisfaction and pride you feel at the end of the day looking at your stable of saws, whichever brand you like, on the ol' workbench and the wood pile out back.

 

[angelo c]

Sideways balance = global warming.

 

[Rudolf73]

Talking about balance, my 261 hasn't rolled of once since I had it... how is the balance on the new 550?

 

[CATDIESEL]

well i do not know what to think here. there must be some aweful weak ms261's out there. i just watch several videos, done by several different builders here. funny thing is, in most of them the 346xp whipped both the 550 and the 261? i own both the 346 and the 261, and they run pretty much dead even, there is no noticable performance difference. so what does this say for the 550? l think they are all good saws, and it comes down to personal preference. my 026/260/261 have been alot more trouble free than my 346's, and they are all run commercially. for a cookie cutter here,a few tenths in the cut and a few onces may be something to beat your chest about. in real world use, husky has no more on stihl, than stihl does husky. there is not a night and days' difference between either one. i have still yet to see any times where any STOCK 550/562, just stomps the tar out of the 261/362. if a couple of tenths gets you that worked up,then i'd say you are easily excited.:msp_w00t:

 

[TK]

The 550 vs 261 deal in cookie cutting will not have a stomping winner. You need to use the saw all around to see proper results.

 

[CATDIESEL]

The 550 is in reality a few generations ahead of the 261. Once the 261 gets M-Tronic it will be close. The 261 always impressed me with it's torque but the 550 has got the same if not more PLUS it revs. I've run 20" 3/8" bars on both in hardwood and softwood with semi and full chisel and the 550 has the 261 stitched in every aspect. The 550 is in a different league altogether.
This isn't some Husky vs. Stihl thing either, just reality until the next version of the 261 hits the market at least.

if the new ms261's are either m-tronic or full fuel injection, and run like the 441c's do, it will in fact be very impressive. the auto tune is the only thing the 550 really has on the 261 right now. the build quality, reliability and most of all the air filtration are hands down better on the stihl.

 

[CATDIESEL]

The 550 vs 261 deal in cookie cutting will not have a stomping winner. You need to use the saw all around to see proper results.

so tell me, and i am asking respectfully. how many here run there saws 5-6days a week for a living? and how many here are firewood cutters and saw junkies? i am not taking away from either party, but it would appear a good share of the guys here are enthusiasts? i can honestly say which category i fall under.

 

[2rod511]

well i do not know what to think here. there must be some aweful weak ms261's out there. i just watch several videos, done by several different builders here. funny thing is, in most of them the 346xp whipped both the 550 and the 261? i own both the 346 and the 261, and they run pretty much dead even, there is no noticable performance difference. so what does this say for the 550? l think they are all good saws, and it comes down to personal preference. my 026/260/261 have been alot more trouble free than my 346's, and they are all run commercially. for a cookie cutter here,a few tenths in the cut and a few onces may be something to beat your chest about. in real world use, husky has no more on stihl, than stihl does husky. there is not a night and days' difference between either one. i have still yet to see any times where any STOCK 550/562, just stomps the tar out of the 261/362. if a couple of tenths gets you that worked up,then i'd say you are easily excited.:msp_w00t:

Like I said I have no experience with a ms261 or a 550xp however, my dad has a ms362 and he will be the first one to tell someone that my twenty year old 262xp completely owns his saw. That said, my buddy bought a 562xp last year and it is in a class by itself. I don't need to see any videos to tell you a 562 whips a 362's ass.

 

[CATDIESEL]

Like I said I have no experience with a ms261 or a 550xp however, my dad has a ms362 and he will be the first one to tell someone that my twenty year old 262xp completely owns his saw. That said, my buddy bought a 562xp last year and it is in a class by itself. I don't need to see any videos to tell you a 562 whips a 362's ass.

i guess until you show us all, well......it can be your little secret.