Looking to buy first saw... Opinions???

Trailtrimmer · Feb 1, 2013

XSKIER said:
Those prices in the first post are 20% off retail. Your stihl dealer must really like you a lot to offer that kind of deal. If I was faced with your decision, I'd buy a new MS261 with 16" blade .325" chain. Use it as your go to saw, then pickup a MS440 or MS460 with 25" blade 3/8 chain as your project saw.

Yeah, I can't believe that price, I'd never see it around here. I'd do the 261 for a new Stihl as well, probably rock a 18" bar though.

If I were buying used, I'd skip the Stihl and go for the 357xp nmurph is selling in the auction area. $330 for a muff modded and slightly refreshed 60cc pro Husky hard to beat.

racerjohnbf · Feb 2, 2013

Trailtrimmer said:
Yeah, I can't believe that price, I'd never see it around here. I'd do the 261 for a new Stihl as well, probably rock a 18" bar though.

If I were buying used, I'd skip the Stihl and go for the 357xp nmurph is selling in the auction area. $330 for a muff modded and slightly refreshed 60cc pro Husky hard to beat.

I get a great deal on Stihl saws and parts because the company I work for owns a Stihl dealership.

I really prefer the inboard clutch and the all in one choke/stop switch of Stihl saws so I'll probably stick with them. But nmurph's 357xp does look like a good deal.

What is the most I should pay for a project 026 or 036, if I can't examine the saw first?

racerjohnbf · Feb 5, 2013

Well I went out and handled a few different saws yesterday and decided to get the MS261 with a 16" bar.

I picked it up today and put it in wood as soon as I got home. Wow! What a difference in this saw and my dad's 028 and the ms290 we have at work, awesome saw!

I only made a few cuts and will let her sit until I can pull the limiter cap and fatten up the high side a bit. I'm gonna order a tach too so I can tune it correctly.

Thanks for the help everyone, just thought I would post and update.

John

cedarhollow · Feb 28, 2017

From a noobee here, I have shopped and shopped and shopped and 260's, 261's in good shape are not cheap, might as well buy new specially if you get discount, when I started heating with wood started with an antique Makita dcs520i 50cc, can't kill it but chains and filters were expensive not knowing about the stuff and how to understand DL count and such, cuts like a crazy now that I got a stihl RS chain for it, then I found a like new 180c for cheap and it got me into stihls, picked up a used 360 pro, cheap again, then a dead 044 that I rebuilt with AM parts for just about $200 total in it, it's got real power but cutting firewood is easier with a lighter saw with my crushed vertibraes. then a couple climbing saws and another 018 needing help. and a Hutzl 660 kit is on the way. Now I'm suffering from stihlinitis and no doctor can cure it.
buy the new 261 with your discount any you'll be on your way with a very.