I believe it's entirely up to the guy operating the saw. I have a few 262 and 254 saws. None are ported, but there are other things that will increase performance besides grinding on the cylinder.
Any of my 254 of 262 saws will pull a 24" full comp In green hardwood. The question is how hard does a guy want to work the saw. Also must remember the bar doesn't need to be buried with every cut.
It's an operator preference. Ask 10 different guys and likely get 10 different answers. And there is no one right answer.
I top a lot with 254 and 262, so for my personal preference, I run longer bars to keep from moving around a lot.
Any of my 254 of 262 saws will pull a 24" full comp In green hardwood. The question is how hard does a guy want to work the saw. Also must remember the bar doesn't need to be buried with every cut.
It's an operator preference. Ask 10 different guys and likely get 10 different answers. And there is no one right answer.
I top a lot with 254 and 262, so for my personal preference, I run longer bars to keep from moving around a lot.