Stihl 310

[McCullough]

Any thoughts of a Stihl 310. Looked at some other models; dealer does not have any of really big models, which is probably fine since the price of the 310 is about my limit. The weight is perceived power is lot less on the 250 so the 310 seems about the right size. I am curious as to how this saw compares to a McCullough Eager Beaver (which has always done everything that we've asked of it - more than enough power even for the occasional tree with a diameter 2X the 20" bar length). I love using Oregon brand chains and replacement bars as they are reality cheap - does Oregon typically make replacements for Stihl saws?

This dealer quoted a price of $349. For $35 more you get a case, extra chain, and a 3rd item I can't recall off hand (maybe it was cap). This dealer said this saw was on a company promotion; however, all the web sites I looked at have said Stihl is known for sticking to retail price and not running any specials, so is this guy full of it? Wow, one web site I saw said that Stihl will not let dealers ship saws, they must be picked up at the dealer - is this true?

 

[Simonizer]

Any thoughts of a Stihl 310. Looked at some other models; dealer does not have any of really big models, which is probably fine since the price of the 310 is about my limit. The weight is perceived power is lot less on the 250 so the 310 seems about the right size. I am curious as to how this saw compares to a McCullough Eager Beaver (which has always done everything that we've asked of it - more than enough power even for the occasional tree with a diameter 2X the 20" bar length). I love using Oregon brand chains and replacement bars as they are reality cheap - does Oregon typically make replacements for Stihl saws?

This dealer quoted a price of $349. For $35 more you get a case, extra chain, and a 3rd item I can't recall off hand (maybe it was cap). This dealer said this saw was on a company promotion; however, all the web sites I looked at have said Stihl is known for sticking to retail price and not running any specials, so is this guy full of it? Wow, one web site I saw said that Stihl will not let dealers ship saws, they must be picked up at the dealer - is this true?

Have you ever used a Stihl?

 

[McCullough]

Never used a Stihl nor any other brand - all equipment is McCullough from 1964 250 to pre bankruptcy saws. Sadly McCullough no longer "really" exists (though I still do like the plastic better on even the newer McCullough saws over Stihl and others - too bad about the rest of the saw)..

 

[Simonizer]

Never used a Stihl nor any other brand - all equipment is McCullough from 1964 250 to pre bankruptcy saws. Sadly McCullough no longer "really" exists.

At the risk of rubbing anyone the wrong way, please try something else. To use metaphor, you have eaten hot-dogs your whole chain saw using life. Enjoy the grade "A" steak of a Stihl, Husqvarna or Jonsered, Echo, Sachs-Dolmar. Instead of taking this the wrong way, I kindly ask you to try a Stihl MS361 with an open mind. Regards, Simon.

 

[Bob E]

I agree with Simon. I had an Eager Beaver until things went bad one day while I was in a tree and I had to ditch the saw fast. I guess it didn't like the landing. Anyway...I now have several Stihls an old Pioneer a different Mac and a Homelite. I have no use for the Mac anymore. It's the saw of last resort. I won't use it unless I have to...and I mean HAVE TO. The Homelite is second lowest on the list (it's a "Timberman"). The Stihls are so much more saw. You will wonder how you ever got by with that Eager Beaver.
I have never had an Echo or Jonsered or Husq, but I understand they're good saws too.
Stay away from Homelite. I tried to get a sprocket for my Timberman the other day and NO ONE had it. They had to get it from the FACTORY!
A stinking sprocket! I'm still waiting for it after 3 weeks. If you can't even get a sprocket for the saw it's pretty much worthless in my book!

-that's my $.02

Bob

 

[SawTroll]

Enjoy the grade "A" steak of a Stihl, Husqvarna or Jonsered, Echo, Sachs-Dolmar. Instead of taking this the wrong way, I kindly ask you to try a Stihl MS361 with an open mind. Regards, Simon.

In my heart a agree with you, but he said that the 310 was at his price limit, so the 361 seems way off the limit......

......but if he could strech it just a little bit, the Husky 359 is adverticed for just under 400 USD by Baileys at the moment. It would be a much better choise than the 310 imho.

 

[computeruser]

The price quoted is good. The 290/310/390 saws are good saws, despite all the bad press that gets childishly thrown about on here. Sure, they are not full-on pro saws, but they don't cost it either. They work well, work consistently, and represent a price point that a lot of us don't see the point of passing. And they are a heck of a lot better than the current crop of junk Homelites, McCulloch, Poulans, and Sears Craftsman saws that are out there. Since I assume your choice is betwen a 310 and one of these junksaws, rather than a 310 and a $550 361, my vote is for the 310.

I have put a lot of hours on my 290 and have been quite pleased with it. I have never found the weight of the saw oppressive, even after a full day of cutting things. It is easy to maintain, starts in any weather, and cuts quickly enough with a 20" bar and chisel chain. And the price was great. And for my purposes at the time, there wasn't any point in spending more. If somebody wanted a saw to cut up firewood with, to work around their property, and to occasionally help a neighbor out, I would not hesitate to suggest the 290 (or 310/390). On the other hand, if someone wanted a suggestion on what to use on 40" DBH oaks all day long six days per week, I would not suggest the 290.

I sincerely believe that if you needed more saw than the 310, you would know it already. Despite the suggestion offered in another reply, I think the question that should be asked here is "are there better $350 saws out there?" and not "are there better saws out there at any price?" In Stihl's product line, I would say that the answer is NO. If you wanted to go to Husqvarna/Jonsered (359/????) or Dolmar (the much anticipated PS5100), you might be able to get into a slightly better saw for about the same amount of money or a tiny bit more. But that wasn't your question.

If you elect to get the 310, as I suspect you will, you will have a solid saw that will give you years of good service. And you will be hard-pressed to find a better new saw for $350.

 

[SawTroll]

....... If you elect to get the 310, as I suspect you will, you will have a solid saw that will give you years of good service. And you will be hard-pressed to find a better new saw for $350.

The best saw in that price class is probably the Husky 353, but of course only if the power it has is sufficient.......

 

[boilerhouse47]

McCullough, I have a Eager Beaver 2014 and a Stihl MS290 and like both saws. For cutting fire wood the Stihl wins hands down. The only thing I use the Beaver for anymore is to cut the Stihl lose if I get the bar pinched or to do some limb trimming around the house where the light weight makes it handier to use on a ladder. Don't get me wrong the Beaver can set on the shelf for 6 months and when I need it the thing fires up and runs like a champ, it is just not big enough to handle the hard woods that I cut. If you are just cutting fire wood for home use the MS310 will be fine.
Boiler

 

[turnkey4099]

On my 3rd season with my 310. Great saw altough it did take a bunch of running before it really got on step. I was warned about that by the dealer.

No comparison to the Macs or any other saw of the period.

Harry K

 

[Diesel JD]

I just bought the MS390. She's kind of heavy compared to all the mini Stihls i operated. It would probably be less so if I had listened to people here and gotten the 20" bar instead of the 25" but hey I need the 25 a lot and even with that and 3/8" full chisel it still has plenty of power. I don't make a living with it but I cut many cords of firewood each year as sitting by the fire is one of my favorite pastimes in the winter and I sell wood on the side. I agree that the old Macs are very good.....but the newer Stihls will blow any of the consumer saws out of the water! Been there done that, you will not believe the difference! To answer your question...yes, Oregon does make bar and chain to fit Stihl saws....look at the PowerMatch and Pro-lite bars for the SS mount on Baileys, and 72 series chain.

 

[fishhuntcutwood]

In my heart a agree with you, but he said that the 310 was at his price limit, so the 361 seems way off the limit......

......but if he could strech it just a little bit, the Husky 359 is adverticed for just under 400 USD by Baileys at the moment. It would be a much better choise than the 310 imho.

I agree with you in my heart and my mind. I'm a Stihl guy and I think the 359 would be a good choice as well. I've owned a 310, and like I always say, it's great in it's intended role-as a homeowner/farm/firewood saw.


Jeff

 

[SandMan]

What's the big difference between the 310 and 361? Probably the biggest difference is the cost- I'm guessing $150 to $200 more. For the extra dough, you get 10% more horsepower and save less than half a pound in weight. Perhaps the 361 revs higher and may cut faster than only what the 10% power increase would indicate, but going from 4.0 to 4.4 hp is not a big jump. I'd say that $350 is a smokin' deal on the 310, they are $399 around here- though you can probably get a couple extras with that if you push. If you are mechanically inclined and are open to potential issues with a used saw, you could look for one of the pro series in good condition for that price. If going new, you will most likely be very happy with the 310 as the power to weight and speed will be much better than what you are used to. The carb is fully adjustable, which is a plus too.

Personally, I'm not sure what the big deal is about the pro vs. mid tier Stihl's. The mid-tier Stihls use bearings, and the horizontally split case is not a big deal to me. Same configuration seems to work for all automotive bearing caps including most if not all race applications. Lots of folks downplay the 'plastic crankcase'. It's not plastic, though the crankcase is not part of a cast tank/crank unit like the pro saws. I know there are arguments on both sides, but I've seen a lot of used pro saws for sale dirt cheap because the oil tank is busted or ripped open by a thrown chain. Patched Stihl gas tanks also seem to kill resale value, and spare tank assemblies on ebay seem to be pretty pricey relatively speaking. The mid-tier might not just be a compromise but might actually be better for the user who will not need the saw rebuilt on a regular basis. Maybe one of the guys who do this for a living can comment on the cost difference between replacing a busted oil tank on the pro vs. mid tier Stihl. Just looking at them, I'd think that the mid-tiers would be cheaper and easier to fix after an 'oops'. Based on how long your current stable of saws has been running, I'd say the 310 fits you well.

Looks like the pro saws primary advantage is power to weight and 'rebuildability'- which is great if you don't have a problem paying extra for it. I guess my point is that for the 'weekend warriors' like me, the mid-tiers are not a compromise, but are actually a better option. Not that I wouldn't mind fixing up one of the larger Stihl pro saws- this site is addictive...

 

[Fish]

I am a Beaver man myself! Although since I hit 40, they are not that eager anymore.
But once they have been Fisherized[copyrighted], they never are the same.

 

[fishhuntcutwood]

What's the big difference between the 310 and 361?...

Anti-vibe, decomp valve, power band, power to weight ratio and yeah, price.

Jeff

 

[Diesel JD]

MS361 and 036 are a heck of a lot nicer saws than the MS290/310/390, but they are real pricey. I looked at the pro saws both the MS440 and the MS361 and I would have gotten a smaller saw fro $549+tax witha 20" bar, versus $499 with the 28" bar with the 390. If I made a living with it though,I'd probably have bought either the MS361 or MS440, just from extra pro features and a nicer saw. I love Stihl saws and I think you will enjoy the 310 if you happen to go with it.

 

[TimberPig]

You get a higher performance saw in the 361 than in the 390 (or 310 which is the same displacement as the 361). It may be smaller but through more aggressive porting and a better but more costly design, it is a more powerful, better performing and lighter saw. It comes down to how much you want to spend and how much performance you expect out of a saw, and how you intend to sue it. For a non-pro who only plans to use it for occasional firewood, the added expense of the pro saw may not be worth it. It is up to the user to decide how much the extra features and performance are worht ot them, or if they are willing to put up with a slightly more boring, lower performance, heavier saw in order to spend less money. Both will still get the job done, one just does it faster and fancier.

 

[stihltech]

310

Do you need a chevy or a buick? Crazy analogy, but it fits.
The 310 will cut lots of firewood pretty economically for the 20 cord a year person. ( My own personal spec).
The 361 will do it smoother and a little faster, at a higher price.
The choice is yours.

Personal observation, the 290 is probably least cost saw to repair in the shop. Fuel hose and occasional oil pump hose and cleaning. All of the original 029 we sold are still going.

Not the lightest, maybe not the fastest, but very reliable. At least in this area.

 

[Stihldoc]

I'm biased. I'm a Stihl dealer- I've been selling Stihl for 13+ years, servicing them professionally for 24 and have owned Stihls for 25 years. The MS 310 is an excellent saw for (as Stihl puts it) "occasional use". This is not a professional saw. If you are a logger or arborist there are other saws in the lineup that probably suit your needs better. That said, I love the MS 290, 310, and 390 as larger farm, ranch, and firewood saws. I have no service or dependability issues with these saws. These models are designed to provide a lot of bang for the buck- they are not lightweight pro saws, nor are they priced like them. Buy the MS 310- it is in your price range and will certainly do all that you need it to do. I cut 4-5 cords of firewood for home use here in metro DC, and have used an old 028 AV for 23 years. The MS 310 weighs about the same and has lots more power- and it retails for less now than my trusty old 028 did in 1981. Buy it, use it safely, love it. If your needs increase, look at a pro saw like the MS 361.


My Saws:
028 AV
012 AV
and too many project saws & boat anchors to list
066 CDIC-A

 

[muleskinner]

I ran a 361, a 390, and a 310 today when I was picking up a new bar for my 031. I think I am going to have to get a 361 the next time I go to town.....I was $75 short of bringing one home today.