Husky 346XP vs Stihl MS260 PRO

[Former Saw Builder]

I sell alot of both of these model saws I was wondering what the experts here think about them and which is really the best saw?

 

[computeruser]

Around and Around We Go

This topic may be as beat to death as the 372 versus 440 threads. :welcome:

 

[Newfie]

Or the poulan woodshark vs. the wildthing.

I've never run the 260 but have 2 346's. Love em for felling, bucking and limbing unless the trees get over 18 inches. One in the woods w/ me and one on the landing.

 

[SawTroll]

This topic may be as beat to death as the 372 versus 440 threads. :welcome:

...yes it has, and the 346xp "won" most of the "battles", as the 372xp did vs.the 440.

A search will result in lots of reading material.

 

[a_lopa]

ive got both brand new,the 026 has barely had a tank of gas the 346 is first choise side by side.and im a stihl man

 

[sedanman]

And a 5100s Dolmar beats 'em both.

 

[460Ted]

*Thread jack* Hey sedanman, I'm originally from Cold Spring. My brother is a big tree guy and he lives at the base of the ski slope in Beacon, small world.

Ted

 

[sedanman]

PM or e-mail me, I might know your brother.

 

[SawTroll]

And a 5100s Dolmar beats 'em both.

No doubt about that, but then there is the :angry2: :censored: dealer support problems, for those who care about that......

 

[a_lopa]

And a 5100s Dolmar beats 'em both.

BIG statement

 

[rbtree]

BIG statement

True it is......EHP has posted the proof. Not even close...

 

[Stihl Crazy]

Where I work the 346 is no match for a 260. The 346 is a nice saw, but has less speed and less power. The 346 has some nice features but I can put more wood on the ground with a 260. The strongest saw under 51cc here is a Redmax 5000. I will try a 5100 Dolmar and see if they are as strong here as in other parts of the country.

 

[woodsrider]

Has anyone compared the 346 and the 260 at altitude -- such as from 6,000 to 8,000 feet? I'm just curious how they compare in thin air...

 

[rahtreelimbs]

Where I work the 346 is no match for a 260.

What is the cause for this?

 

[Crofter]

Where I work the 346 is no match for a 260. The 346 is a nice saw, but has less speed and less power. The 346 has some nice features but I can put more wood on the ground with a 260. The strongest saw under 51cc here is a Redmax 5000. I will try a 5100 Dolmar and see if they are as strong here as in other parts of the country.

What is the elevation where you are.

Frank

 

[ehp]

Frank , Art is very close to the ocean and the normal saws do run alot different there than here.

 

[davefr]

No doubt about that, but then there is the :angry2: :censored: dealer support problems, for those who care about that......

Yes there is the dealer problem. Stihl parts can't be purchased on the internet nor does Stihl provide any substantial documentation like manuals or parts lists on their web site. (unlike Dolmar). You rely on hunting down a B&M Stihl dealer and getting them to order parts for you.

The one time I needed Makita Dolmar parts it was just a couple mouse clicks away vs. Stihl where you have to find a B&M store, get them to order the parts, and then make another trip to pick them up. Stihl hasn't enbraced the internet yet and until they do their support will be lacking. There are three legs to the support "stool" - B&M, phone and internet.

John Deere has figured out how the embrace e-commerce for parts ordering while still supporting their dealer channel. Stihl needs to figure it out.

 

[Stihl Crazy]

I think the biggest difference here is the moisture content of the air. In the late fall and winter when the air is dry the saws run different than summer. The humidity in summer stays around 90%. We can have heavy fog until the afternoon. One of my 346's cut 6.5 sec for 3 cuts in 8x8 and 2 hours later in heavy fog cut 9 sec. I usually run stihl in the summer and husky in the winter.

Art

 

[Stihl Crazy]

If I remember my geography lessons correctly Nova Scotia is only 100 miles across at its widest part. Therefore you can only get 50 miles away from the ocean. My work is 2-10 miles away from ocean. The farther inland you go the better some saws work. Our biggest saw competition is only 400 yards from the water and the 346's finished no better than 6th. Two weeks latter and 20 miles inland they finished 1st and 2nd. No other saws in the class could get within 2 seconds of them.