Bought stihl ms261-cm, buyers remorse?

[dalearyous]

this was a surprisingly difficult purchase to make. i was hoping there would be one saw that just made sense. but damn it was difficult to choose. i basically decided i wanted the ms241-cm all the way up until the last day or so.

i live on 15 acres, 90% heavily wooded. the house and yard and driveway are being over taken. i have at least 8 trees that need to come down immediately. im surrounded by 150 acre farm and another large plot. trees are constantly down in the area after storms. normally, i just drive over or around them in my excessively built Jeep. im a buy once cry once type of consumer and i was ok buying a premium chainsaw.

however, at the last second i decided to go with ms261-cm ... being committed to max 16" bar gave me cold feet. even though i will admit i loved the weight and balance of the 241-cm. im hoping i don't regret the slightly heavier, larger model. i fired it up this afternoon and wow its light years ahead of what i was borrowing. anyway, what would you do in my situation? (FYI, $50 price difference between the models)

 

[SmokinIdahoan]

Keep it. That saw will be a good saw for many years to come. I personally run a 550xp and it’s my 1 saw plan...


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[dalearyous]

thats the equivalent husqvarna right?

i will say first thing i noticed was it sounds different. reminded me of the difference between normal battery op tools and brushless ones. it started on 2nd pull after i set it all up. ill be running it all weekend and will post back.

 

[SmokinIdahoan]

Yeah, I’m a fan of the husky’s. As a land owner, a 50cc saw will do everything I need. I’ve cut some big trees, to simple twigs and a mid sized is all I need.


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[SCHallenger]

From my point of view, you made the right choice. I have an early 261 (standard carb) which is about 1lb heavier than the newer version you have. It is ported & is my go-to saw. Even before being ported it was #1 on my hit parade! Recently I thought about adding a 241 & was debating about whether or not another 261 made more sense. I decided in favor of another 261! You'll never even think about the weight difference between the 261 vs the 241 as you get completely familiar with what you have & just how versatile it really is.

 

[dalearyous]

Yeah, I’m a fan of the husky’s. As a land owner, a 50cc saw will do everything I need. I’ve cut some big trees, to simple twigs and a mid sized is all I need.

agreed. i have nothing against huskys either. we just have a really awesome local Stihl shop.

From my point of view, you made the right choice. I have an early 261 (standard carb) which is about 1lb heavier than the newer version you have. It is ported & is my go-to saw. Even before being ported it was #1 on my hit parade! Recently I thought about adding a 241 & was debating about whether or not another 261 made more sense. I decided in favor of another 261! You'll never even think about the weight difference between the 261 vs the 241 as you get completely familiar with what you have & just how versatile it really is.

good to know.

 

[Biigg50]

I have an old MS 260 pro that is still my most often used saw. It has a 20” Bar and cuts amazing in oak or pine. It’s close to 20 yrs old now and I’ve never regretted it.


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[holeycow]

You should not have buyer’s remorse about that purchase. It is one of the best 50cc saws available. There’s only 3 competitors imo (possibly only 2), and you bought one of them. It will probably last you forever as an occasional use saw.

 

[1Alpha1]

You won't regret buying it. It's a GREAT saw.....no BS!

 

[boomeradf]

Honestly if you are worried on weight with the 261 and have no phyical struggles I am not sure any saw is really right for you.

Its a tremendous saw and at only a difference of $50 the right choice of the two.

 

[holeycow]

You won't regret buying it. It's a GREAT saw.....no BS!

Shouldn’t you be getting to bed?

 

[1Alpha1]

Shouldn’t you be getting to bed?

Now that I'm retired 8.5 yrs. now, I can stay up late and sleep in late. And, I can take a nap in the afternoon if I feel like.

What's not to like?

 

[CR888]

Go swap it over if you want to before cutting wood. Stihl have a policy that you can return any product your not happy with within a week or month or something. What size wood your cutting determines the best of the 2, if most of your wood is sub 14", get the 241. If its mostly 12"-18" get the 261. You want the lightest saw that's suitably powered for the task.

 

[Drptrch]

Ditto all of the above. We run 4 of them w/20’s pared with 461’s on our Engines. Light, nimble and fast

Erik

 

[PA Dan]

The 261 sounds like the right choice! I have had my v2 for about 18 months and just love it! Mine is ported and it runs awesome!

 

[Ryan'smilling]

Another happy ported-261 owner here. Honestly a 241 looks great, but unless you're gonna be in wood under 8" for several hours a week I wouldn't really buy one. The 261 has a good amount more power for $50 more and I think it's a much more versatile saw.

 

[Little Al]

Now that I'm retired 8.5 yrs. now, I can stay up late and sleep in late. And, I can take a nap in the afternoon if I feel like.

What's not to like?

"AH" but you realise that that you have joined the ranks of the great unwashed never get a day off brigade

 

[drf255]

You made the right choice. It’s a light, but big saw. Ported, it’s pretty amazing and will pull a 20” 3/8 bar with ease.

Only issue I have with the model is it’s physical size. It’s huge for a 50cc saw. Lighter, but the same size as an old 036, which we all know will trounce it bad.

 

[Overkill338]

Honestly if you are worried on weight with the 261 and have no phyical struggles I am not sure any saw is really right for you.

Its a tremendous saw and at only a difference of $50 the right choice of the two.

I disagree. The 241 is very under appreciated. I can tell the difference in the weight in the two. I have a revised 261 on the way, so I'll do some side by side weight comparisons.

The reason I disagree, is because either one is the right choice. There is no loser in that comparison at all. Win/Win!

 

[pioneerguy600]

You made the right choice for a one saw plan!