Thread: Stihl Chainsaw

How much use are you going to put it to? The 261 is a bloody nice saw, I have the MS260 and MS361 combo currently but have have a range of other Stihls, Husqy's, Makita's, etc etc. If you are a few times a year user and don't mind the open tail bars the MS270 could be a good option as well. One of the issues if you can call it that is the MS260/261 series are one of the few Stihl saws using the heavier duty closed tail bar design with a .325 pitch chain. This makes the bars more expensive and occasionally a bit harder to source than the bigger 3/8 full size forestry bars and the smaller open tail "light duty" saws.

At a practical level, the MS260 I have normally wears a 15" bar/.325 pitch and with that on it (the smallest size and almost impossible to get off the shelf in NZ) it cuts like the finger of god. It's ridiculously quick, and the chain RPM is off the charts. I have 16" and 18" bars for it as well, but it's just such an animal with the 15" on it I just leave it with that. The MS361 on the other hand has bars between 18" and 22" here (I have a 16" but never use it) and while it's noticeably heavier and bulkier it moves a lot of timber and is a very effective tool even at 22" bar length. I'd hesitate to go over 22" with it just for bar oiling. What I'm getting at there, is while the MS261 and similar 50cc saws might be able to run a 20" bar you'll find they will run better with a shorter bar length and will be less likely to feel the chain going a bit dull. Horsepower rules here!

If you are wanting to run 20" bars all the time and are doing a lot of work I'd recommend you seriously consider a 60cc class saw on 3/8 pitch chain, it will just be better (I think the current Stihl equivalent is the MS362? Theres a MS400 in the mix now too). If you're able to run the 16 or 18" bars and only once in a while have a need for the 20" bar the 50cc MS261 will be very suitable as a pro-series saw, and if you are not doing that much work with it the light duty saws in Stihl's line or for that matter the Husqy's will do it as well. If you're going to be maxing the thing out, something like a MS440/460 is an option as a decent second hand - they are bloody good saws especially the 460 size. I'd get another in an instant if I had the need (but the 361 will chop everything I need at the mo). I recently got an adult jigsaw parts box 460 saw, and got offered good money for it once I got it back together. Still regret selling it!