MS310 and 24" B/C

[Riddler]

This past weekend, I purchased a ms310 on a bit of an impulse. The dealer is good guy who sells lots of other equipment, but I know he has a fair amount of experience with chain saws. Anyway, he had several models on hand, and without too much discussion, I settled on the 310. He had a unit on the self that he said had come in just last week.

I had been using an inexpensive Homelite with a 20" bar for several months. I wanted to go a little bigger. I have a lot of clean up to do on 20 acres of doug fir, redwoods, large oaks and big laurel trees. I will probably use the saw alot over the next few years, and then progressly less once the majority of the clean up is done. The 310 had a 24" bar and 3/8" chain, so I bought it without too much thought. The price was an attractive point as well (although I am willing and able to pay more if that's what takes to get the right machine).

Well, for the two or three hours that I used it after getting it home, it cut great, at least in very green laurel and oak, none of which was more than 12"-14". Now that I have had the chance to work the computer, however, I notice that nowhere, not even on Stihl's website, does anyone recommend that this saw be mated with a 24" bar and 3/8" chain. While I still have the opportunity to exchange the thing for a different model, should I conclude that this power head, bar and chain combination is nothing but a disappointment waiting to happen? With the amount of work I plan to do, (i.e,. more than homeowner but something less than pro), should I definitely consider a more expensive model, especially if I am committed to a 24" bar?

If longevity is the main issue, I am happy to take the chance that it survives all of the clean up work because after all, it didn't cost me $700 or $800. If I get alot of good cutting out of it, I will have gotten my money's worth. On the other hand, if I am going to find that it simply won't do what most other new machines better suited for a 24" bar/chain will do, then I am prepared to visit my dealer again and pay the additional amount necessary to move up. I know that the only thing folks can offer in this situation is opinion and speculation, but that is more than I have to go on at the moment. I don't have experience with saws of varying bar sizes, so hence the call for help. Thanks in advance.

 

[glens]

24" would be just a tad optimistic for that saw in most cases but if you're not racing the clock you should be okay with it

It's always important to not continue cutting with a chain that's dull and it'll be even more important with that combo if you plan to use the full bar in a cut.  Even a mediocre hand-filing job in the field is much better and safer than continuing on with a dull chain.

What do <i>you</i> think of the saw?

The MS361 is about the same size engine but is noticeably more useful in a few respects and might be better-suited to the job...

Glen

 

[Justin Garrison]

I agree it would probably do the job, just not as fast. I have a ms290, wich is basicly the same saw, the 310 has a tad larger engine. My 290 has its fill with the 18 inch bar. I will probably swith it to a 16 once I get the 046, I will probably have 18 to 20 inch on that,with the 28 and 32 inch for desperate times. If you are using it for a limited amount of time you will probably be fine. Stepping up to a 361 would be good if you did not mind around $200 dollars more. Unless all your cutting requires the 24 inch bar an extra smaller bar would benefit you. Whatever makes you happy. If you are content with it stick with it. If you have a craving for more power, swap it while you can.

 

[Lawn Masters]

If you're gonna be doing lots of cutting, you should probably upgrade to the MS361. I cant tell you whats best for you, just offer my advice.

 

[Lobo]

Personnally for regular use I would not go more than 18 in. maxed out at 20 inches.

24 in. is too long unless your cutting very soft wood.

 

[stihltech]

maxed out

I won't sell a 310 with anything over a 20 inch bar. Maybe in pine, but in hardwood, nope.

 

[ray benson]

Maybe the dealer would swap a shorter bar and chain for the 24"?

 

[fishhuntcutwood]

Riddler, you sound just like me. I bought that same saw for the same reason you did, and also with a 24" bar. Like has been mentioned, for hardwoods, that bar is way out of line, but for us guys on the West Coast going through Doug Fir, WRC, spruce, etc, I think it works fine as a firewood saw, with the very occasional felling of a small tree if need be. I loved that saw...until I knew how lacking it was. Had I not known that it was a shortcoming of a saw (when compared to Stihl's pro saws) I would have been fine with it. It cut well, ran well, did exactly what I wanted it to do, and I was tickled. But then I got way more into chainsaw use, and into far more time in the woods with it and in the clear cut picking up firewood than I had planned. When this happened, I realized I needed a bigger, better saw. Enter the 361. Day and night, amigo. I sold that 310 to a guy at work, and now he's happy with it, and I went back to my dealer and got a 361 with a 24". That saw isn't even broken in yet, and it already smoke checks the 310. I'm amazed at the difference in Q, weight, high end power, and overall features and quality. If you're willing to step and and spend a bit more, go with the 361 and don't look back. Always buy the best saw you can afford, and then enjoy it. If you can swing the 361, by all means, go for it. I think the 310 would only be a disappointment if you ran another comparable saw, or if you'd ran pro saws before it, and saw how the 310 stacked up next to them. If you're gonna do more than the occasional homeowner amount of wood, but less than a pro (which is a niche' I think many of us fit into) the 361 will do you fine, and then some. I love mine, and I'm glad I bought it.

Take care all,
Jeff

 

[Riddler]

Thanks for all of the input. In almost all cases, the larger trees I will be cutting will be either redwood or doug fir. Larger oaks, especially dry ones, will be rare. With the softer woods and a sharp chain, maybe the 310 will do a passable job working a 24" bar (even if its longevity won't match the pro models). I will talk to the dealer to see whether that's the reason he is comfortable ordering this unit with that set up. For the few hours that I have used it already, it ripped through modest size material like a champ. If the dealer, who is personally familiar with my property and who I trust at this point, is confident I will be satisfied, then I will stick with it and see (for better or worse) how it stands up. Heck, if I manage to stay in one piece throughout some of the more serious work, perhaps I will post a report on how the 310 performed. Thanks again.

 

[Andyshine77]

If your going to use a 24" B&C 100% of the time, the only Stihl i would consider would be the MS 440. Now if you plan on using a 18" or 20" B&C 75% of the time, the 361 would be the saw to get, it's smooth light and powerful.

Whatever saw you end up with, be careful and have fun.

 

[turnkey4099]

I find it passing strange that dealers are pushing these out with 24" bars. I bought one two years ago. The dealer installed a 20" bar at my insistance. Plenty happy with the saw set up that way but there again I am west coast and cutting soft woods. Haven't lucked out with a Locust yet to try it out. My impression is the same as most others. 24" is probably too much bar even in soft woods if you are talking production. For homeowners where fast cut isn't that important and big cuts are rare, it would do.

Harry K

 

[Lobo]

I would worry also, that the 24 in. B/C is robbing enough power that I may force the saw in to a tough binding situation that my not have happened would I have been using ie:a 18 in. B/C and all the power the saw can muster.

 

[geofore]

moneys worth?

Riddler, what's your time worth? With the 310 it takes more time to do each and every cut with the optomistic veiw that a 310 is enough saw to pull a 24" bar and chain setup. Over a couple of years that's a lot of hours. Step up to the MS361 and down to a 20" b/c. I'm with Andyshine that if you're going to stick with a 24" b/c all the time step up to the 044. If you're just out there on weekends the MS361 will do but the bigger wood will slow it down with a 24" b/c combo. The best combo of saws for cleanup of 25 acres around here would be the Husky 346xp with the 16" or 18" b/c and Dolmar PS7900 with 20"or 24" b/c setup. To spell that out in Stihl terms, near equal Stihl saws, you have it if you go with Stihl the MS260 pro and the MS440. With the dealer support you have, your dealer nearby, and homeowner but a little more cutting than usual, I'd go with the MS361 20"b/c and the MS260 pro 16"- 18" for a smaller saw. It will save you hours in cutting time over a few years of clean up. When you're done you'll Stihl have a couple of good saws with good resale value. If you veiw it in terms of what my time is worth vs the price of the saws you end up saving money going for the Pro series saws on a big cleanup job. It's not about what the saw saves you the day you buy it, it's what the saw saves you over the life of the saw when you use it. You said it yourself, your in to territory well past the homeowner range. Step up to the Pro saws.

 

[Riddler]

Well, you folks definitely have me on the run for walking out with the 24" b/c, not to mention the need for one of the pro model machines. I guess that's why I don't normally purchase an important tool without doing a fair amount of due diligence first.

I am going to see what it will take to move up to the ms361 (or even the ms440) with a 20" b/c. I can eventually add a 24" b/c to my collection for those infrequent instances where I really need something that long. If the upgrade is too problematic though, I'll simply swap out the 24" b/c for a smaller (e.g., 18" one), and worry about how to cut the bigger stuff when I come to it. This has been a very helpful thread, indeed.

 

[glens]

If you're not happy with your choice, bear in mind that the 440 essentially weighs the same as the 310 while the 361 is about a pound lighter.&nbsp; That can really make a difference at the end of the day if what you're mostly doing is swinging the saw around cutting limbs.

For a point of reference, I carry my 066 with a 24" bar and my 036 with a 20".&nbsp; I have run the 24 on the 036 and it does acceptably well with it in a pinch.

If you're going to have only one saw, the 361 would be an exquisite candidate, but don't count your 310 out; I don't have you "on the run" for buying it at all.&nbsp; The 24" bar, though, might be a slightly different story... :<tt>)</tt>

Glen

 

[fishhuntcutwood]

I wouldn't have you on the run either. Hell, I bought the same saw, with the same bar, for the same reasons you did. I moved up to the 361 for the reasons we've talked about.

Take care all,
Jeff

 

[Riddler]

Glen and Jeff, of course your input had me "on the run" in a good way. I was inspired to have a more intelligent conversation with my friendly dealer who, in the end, was willing to take back the ms310 as part of an upgrade to the ms361 with 20" b/c. I'll pick it up this weekend. I agree that the optimal arrangement for me may very well have been a ms260 Pro with second larger saw for felling and bucking the bigger stuff, but the 361 is a great solution for everything that I'll face in the very near term (especially if I pick up a 24" b/c for occasional use along the way). Thanks again for the wise thoughts and suggestions.

 

[glens]

I don't see how you possibly could be, but just in case, I hope you're not disappointed.&nbsp; Well done!

Your dealer shouldn't be too put off if you offer to pay the buck or two difference he might want for outfitting that saw with either RM or RS chain.&nbsp; They do make the bar tip a little more prone to jumping with casual contact, but the performance increase is very well worth it.

Glen

 

[fishhuntcutwood]

Man, you are going to love that saw!! And I'd agree with Glen, swap up to a better chain. My dealer swaps out chains on new saws for free. I use an RMF chain, and am very, very happy.

Enjoy that saw.

Take care all,
Jeff