Many have read and replied to my thread about fixing my wildthing saw. Thanks! If this saw fails soon, what bar length is most appropriate for the homeowner? I usually use my saw to clear small trees (1-10" in diameter) from 4 wheeler trails on the land where we hunt, cut up fallen branches from storms if we have any that year and maybe to cut hickory logs into smaller pieces for use in my smoker. So, not a whole lot of use. In my mind, I need an 18 inch bar. I'm sure I think that because the 42cc wildthing bar is 18 inches. But, I would have to step up to a stihl MS250 to get a saw that has the 18 inch bar as an option. When the wildthing fails, should I buy the 250 or settle for a 210 or 230 with a 16 inch bar? My thought is go with the 250 because if i don't, I'll regret it. Give me your thoughts and experiences. Thanks again, you all are incredible. Greg
Stihl homeowner saw, what bar length?
- Thread starter gt2003
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An MS250 with a 16" bar is a nice all-around combination. Balance feels better at 16" than 18" on that saw, in my opinion. For more on my 16" versus 18" preference, read this post: HERE.
I'd skip the 210 and 230. The 210 I ran was lifeless, and the 230 is near enough to a 250 that you might as well go the distance and forego the downrated 230.
I'd skip the 210 and 230. The 210 I ran was lifeless, and the 230 is near enough to a 250 that you might as well go the distance and forego the downrated 230.
The ms 250 would be a great choice. Mine has a 17" bar I believe which the saw seems to handle just fine.
It's very light and manouverable(fun), not too exciting powerwise but enough to get the job done. The handles are buzzier than I'm used to and it's a bit of a nuisance to start compared to my other saws(357,372 and an ms 290) Good saw IMO
It's very light and manouverable(fun), not too exciting powerwise but enough to get the job done. The handles are buzzier than I'm used to and it's a bit of a nuisance to start compared to my other saws(357,372 and an ms 290) Good saw IMO
Lakeside53
Stihl Wrenching
18 on the MS250 is a good choice.
Bowtie
Gearhead
Not sure about the 025's, but my used 026 pro with a 16 inch bar (and of course a sharp full chisel chain) do me nicely for the 2-3 cords per year I burn as a homeowner.
oldsaw
"Been There, Milled That"
Not much you can't do with a 16. I'm okay with them. If you are doing 30" trees on a regular basis, you need a bigger saw anyway.
Mark
Mark
Indiana John
ArboristSite Operative
Not sure how well an MS250 would pull an 18" bar, but if Andy says it works, I'd take his word for it. 
I know mine is a wood-eatin' fool with the 16" bar and RS chain! Would like to try an 18" on it someday tho.
I know mine is a wood-eatin' fool with the 16" bar and RS chain! Would like to try an 18" on it someday tho.
NYH1
Tacticle Chainsaw Operator.
I have an 021. I bought it with a 16 inch bar. I recently bought a 14 inch bar for it and it works a lot better. Having said that if I didn't have the 021 and wanted a similar saw I'd get a MS250 with a 16 inch bar. The MS250 doesn't weigh to much more then the 021 but makes one more horsepower. 
fishhuntcutwood
Full wraps and long bars!!!!!!!!!
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Indiana John
ArboristSite Operative
After reading that post, I see we have basically the same philosphy. It's that same reasoning that I used when I got the MS290 with the 20" bar. Just seemed to make the most sense to have the 250 with the 16" bar and the 290 with the 20". I still want a 361 some day, and I'll probably go with a 24" then. We just don't have that much stuff bigger than 18"-20" in our woods, but I may need to cut something bigger than that someday, so a 24" might come in handy.
:greenchainsaw:
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Diesel JD
ArboristSite Guru
The 18" bar is fine on the 250 or 025. I have cut MANY cords of wood with this combo, sometimes in wood much bigger than Stihl probably intended the 025/250 for. It never stopped cutting and never failed to get the job done except where 2X the guide bar just wouldn't reach no matter how many plunge cutting tricks I employed...40+" Nyssa Aqautica stumps! Also, the 250 allows you to step up to the .325 pitch chisel chains....and there is a BIG difference between that and the non professional saw chain.
When you say you have good experiences with 16" and 18" bars on the 250, what chain are you using it with?
Mine is setup as standard here with 14" bar and .325 RMC, and it works great, but I'm too in the need of a little longer bar and don't want to to drop down to 3/8 picco or so if it could be avoided. Rather I would actually like to try the .325 RSC with a 16", or any of them with the 18" bar.
Anyhow gt2003,
the 250 is a nice saw and I'm very happy with mine, although I wouldn't pay extra to get the c-be version if I bought it today.
Mine is setup as standard here with 14" bar and .325 RMC, and it works great, but I'm too in the need of a little longer bar and don't want to to drop down to 3/8 picco or so if it could be avoided. Rather I would actually like to try the .325 RSC with a 16", or any of them with the 18" bar.
Anyhow gt2003,
the 250 is a nice saw and I'm very happy with mine, although I wouldn't pay extra to get the c-be version if I bought it today.
Just curious, but why do you say 18" if the largest he cuts is 10"? I was thinking possibly the reason he only cuts 10" is because he's using a wildthang, and if he got an MS250 he might try some larger wood. Is that the rationale?
Stihl here
ArboristSite Operative
I have a STIHL MS250 with a 16'' bar and .325 RS chain and it seems to be the perfect setup for it. I bet it would pull an 18'' but 16'' handles well for most of my needs. The ms250 bucks cordwood 12'' and smaller well.
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Mostly what I cut are smaller trees, 10 inches or less in diameter. However, when clearing fallen trees, there are times when I have to cut up larger, older trees that have fallen or blown over. I don't think there has ever been a tree that I've been unable to get through by cutting from both sides with the 18 inch bar on my wildthing. I would say the largest stump/log I've cut through is probably about 30 inches. These are fallen trees that I'm cutting up to get them off the 4 wheeler trails. So, maybe the 18 inch bar would be a better idea. As long as the 250 will adequately handle it, thats what I'll buy when this thing dies. Does that sound reasonable/rationale for what I've described above?
Stihl here
ArboristSite Operative
Yes, The ms250 will do just fine!!!
SawTroll
Information Collector
Yes, The ms250 will do just fine!!!
...but the Husky 350 is a much better and nicer saw.....:hmm3grin2orange: :hmm3grin2orange:
THALL10326
The Champ
But the 250 was rated a better saw by Consumer Products, in fact rated BEST. :hmm3grin2orange: :hmm3grin2orange:
SawTroll
Information Collector
Yep, but that's just lunacy, because they think people need the QCA and Easy-start........
umpkin2: umpkin2: They think that people are lame idiots...... :hmm3grin2orange: :hmm3grin2orange:
THALL10326
The Champ
Yep, but that's just lunacy, because they think people need the QCA and Easy-start........
They think that people are lame idiots...... :hmm3grin2orange: :hmm3grin2orange:
Awwwwwwww but those people buy more saws than the pros, maybe 10,000 homeowners to every one Pro, who would you cater too, GOTCHA,:hmm3grin2orange: :hmm3grin2orange:
