Help me pick my next saw! (241/251/261)?!

[SAWMIKAZE]

This a muffler that homelite410 did that now resides on my 361 , a muffler mod is a must on a 361 , its night and day.

 

[USMC615]

View attachment 505490
This a muffler that homelite410 did that now resides on my 361 , a muffler mod is a must on a 361 , its night and day.

Very nice MM work...

 

[USMC615]

To the OP, I can speak volumes on the MS-261 CM...it's the only saw I have outta your choices. If you buy it, you won't be disappointed.

 

[2000ssm6]

I haven't ran a 241 or the 261(newest version). The older 261 is a good saw but I'd take a 361 over it.

With your 361 and 461, you should be looking for something smaller. I have a couple rear handle 200's w/ 14" b&c that are killer for limbs and small bucking jobs, the ported one is insane. Finding one of those in good shape for a decent price will be tough, I've been told the newest version of the 201 is a good saw.

Maybe look at the 20" Stihl ES lightweight bar for your 361. Might give you enough weight savings to run it longer. I plan on getting one soon, love my 28" on the ported 440.

 

[SawTroll]

To the OP, I can speak volumes on the MS-261 CM...it's the only saw I have outta your choices. If you buy it, you won't be disappointed.

That's a Stihl saw I would avoid, the 550xp no doubt is a better option in the 50cc class - unless you don't care how the saw handles.

 

[USMC615]

That's a Stihl saw I would avoid, the 550xp no doubt is a better option in the 50cc class - unless you don't care how the saw handles.

I understand ST...but I gots what I gots...and the 261 has never missed a beat. You can tell from my sig, I'm not a one brand saw man...to be honest with ya, I'd suggest a damn nice Husky 55, base gasket delete, and rock on. The 55 I purchased from Hoskvarna (Mark) is my dead nutz, go to saw...it runs like a raped ape and pulls an 18" like there's no tomorrow. It don't check up in nothing I've put it through. I haven't read this whole thread...maybe a 445 might be a nice option. The 445 I've got runs like a scalded dog and its factory.

 

[gary courtney]

use the money you were gonna put on a saw and hire it done

 

[CoreyB]

I like a small saw and find it useful my small saw more often than my larger saws. So out of you choices I would go 241. As mentioned above a lower cost alternative is the Dolmar 421 which is a great small saw as well.

 

[SawTroll]

.....

Maybe look at the 20" Stihl ES lightweight bar for your 361. Might give you enough weight savings to run it longer. I plan on getting one soon, love my 28" on the ported 440.

Hello ol' friend/"foe" - long time, no see!

Do you have any contact with Tommy?

I agree with going with a light weight bar, if using one as long as 20" on a MS361.

 

[SawTroll]

If you pick the MS261, at least make sure that you get one of the new and lighter ones, the older ones aren't that much lighter than the 361.

 

[Jp_over]

An old thread but still good discussion. I think I'm going to pick up an MS 261 C-M today.

 

[SuperDuty04]

I say get the 261cm and add in a 200t or echo 2511