Stihl MS 270... yes or no?

[Nix]

I've been looking into getting a lighter saw for a while now, for limbing, pruning and such. The big Husky's and Stihl's (the two I normally use, only just got into Husky though) are awesome saws, but man they do weigh a lot after a while. Thus I'm looking into a "light" saw for smaller things.

I've read mixed things about the 270, and I'm just curious as to what you all think of it. Good saw? Or is it more on the cheaper end of Stihl's saws like the 290? The 290 that I had (traded it in towards the Husky 365sp, actually) ran fairly, but it had some issues from day one and just had a "cheap" feeling to it overall. I'd like to stay away from that.

So, any opinions on the MS 270 would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

[funky sawman]

Get a new MS261 and I will cure cancer befor you even get it:hmm3grin2orange: Ms 270 is a tough saw according to the local tree climbing company, they use the crap out of it, that saw is a ground saw for bucking up larger pieces before they get chipped

 

[WVhunter]

I have the 280 and love it. I have heard a lot of good things about the 270 also, both are fine firewood saws. From what I have read they are not a "PRO" saw but are better than the homeowner line, kind of in the middle. Good Luck and Merry Christmas.

 

[funky sawman]

Darnet, I meant "IT" will cure cancer. I think the TTTTTTT button is failing on my keyboark

 

[brages]

My brother has one... it's better than a 290 (IMO), but not as good as an 026 (again, IMO). If you thought the 290 was cheap, pass on the 270 and get a 346xp or a ms261.

FWIW, the stats of these latter two aren't that much better than a ms280...

 

[pastryguyhawaii]

I like my 270. It cuts very smooth and with a muffler mod it's a decent saw. It's not the best saw in this class but then again, I'm not the best sawyer, either.

 

[gink595]

Get a new MS261 and I will cure cancer befor you even get it:hmm3grin2orange:

I think the 261 has become the new 361, one guy brags it up and everyone and their brother can't get to the dealer fast enough, then everyone that has never seen them will be bragging it up and then later on once the guys braggin it up finally get one they realize WTH was so special about this POS, and then there is a bunch for sale on the trading post and people start threads that they think the 361 sucks and it is over rated... You wait and see

 

[FATGUY]

@ $450 + tax, I think it's too close in price to a 261 or 346 but too far in quality of design and construction. Shell out the extra $70 or so and get the 261 ...

 

[FATGUY]

I think the 261 has become the new 361, one guy brags it up and everyone and their brother can't get to the dealer fast enough, then everyone that has never seen them will be bragging it up and then later on once the guys braggin it up finally get one they realize WTH was so special about this POS, and then there is a bunch for sale on the trading post and people start threads that they think the 361 sucks and it is over rated... You wait and see

think you're wrong on both accounts, I love my 361 and am saving my pennies for a 261.......

 

[Nix]

Thanks for the replies, everyone.

I was also gonna ask this... how's the 270 compared to the 260 Pro? I've used the 260 pro one of my friend's has and it ran well, cut well. But it's also a little bit more cahs (not too bad), for the same amount of power... though I've read the construction is sturdier on it than the 270.

Taking into account that this isn't going to be my "main" saw, which would you recommend? MS270 or MS260/1?

 

[FATGUY]

Thanks for the replies, everyone.

I was also gonna ask this... how's the 270 compared to the 260 Pro? I've used the 260 pro one of my friend's has and it ran well, cut well. But it's also a little bit more cahs (not too bad), for the same amount of power... though I've read the construction is sturdier on it than the 270.

Taking into account that this isn't going to be my "main" saw, which would you recommend? MS270 or MS260/1?

for it's worth, I just had both of those models on my bench in the past 2 weeks. When it comes to the way they're put together, the outdated 260 is still miles ahead of the 270 IMHO. The 270 just seems unnecessarily complicated, almost over engineered.

 

[rob066]

I am not sure. But wasnt the 270 at one point going to be a replacement for the 260 or 026?

 

[gink595]

think you're wrong on both accounts, I love my 361 and am saving my pennies for a 261.......

That could be true for you, but there sure seemed to be alot of guys on here that went out and bought them to turn around sell them later, I personally never seen the attraction in the 361, they are OK stock but not much better than the homeowner 310 performance wise. I think people read about how great some of these saws are until they actually run one and are left a little disappointed. I know I have at GTG's a 460 comes to mind, and then there have been ones that I've read were total pigs to find out that they weren't bad at all.. Husky 350 comes to mind.

 

[FATGUY]

That could be true for you, but there sure seemed to be alot of guys on here that went out and bought them to turn around sell them later, I personally never seen the attraction in the 361, they are OK stock but not much better than the homeowner 310 performance wise. I think people read about how great some of these saws are until they actually run one and are left a little disappointed. I know I have at GTG's a 460 comes to mind, and then there have been ones that I've read were total pigs to find out that they weren't bad at all.. Husky 350 comes to mind.

I think that holds true more for the class of saw (60cc saws are sort of the odd man out in anything but a one saw plan) than the saw itself. That being said, the 50cc saw seems to be a staple in any saw plan.

 

[HARRY BARKER]

I think the 261 has become the new 361, one guy brags it up and everyone and their brother can't get to the dealer fast enough, then everyone that has never seen them will be bragging it up and then later on once the guys braggin it up finally get one they realize WTH was so special about this POS, and then there is a bunch for sale on the trading post and people start threads that they think the 361 sucks and it is over rated... You wait and see

EXACTLY!!!!! and the 361 is over rated

SHAM-WOW!!

 

[homelitejim]

I will probably go with the ms261 when my 032 gives out, hope this helps.

 

[Andyshine77]

Add in the husky 353 it's a better saw than it needs to be.

I will say this. The 261 is probably the best 50cc saw on the market, however I wouldn't even think about selling my 346, I simply prefer the feel, weight and handling of the 346 better.

The most I'd pay for a new or like new 270 would be $150.00 and it would be a loaner saw. Does it make a good firewood saw? yes, but like FG said they are over engineered to say the least.

The best saw for the money on the market is the Dolmar 6400 in Makita blue. http://www.baileysonline.com/itemdetail.asp?item=MKA+DCS6421+20&catID=11227

 

[BloodOnTheIce]

We sell a lot of these saws, they're a bit overpriced, but are still 75$ less than the MS260, and 110$ less than the MS261. The only time we have issues with these saws and the MS280's also is when guys run dull chains, and horse on the saw. When they run the saw likes this they pull out the spring A/V mounts but that's a real small minority maybe 2-3 out of the 75-100 of them we've sold. Good running solid saws.

 

[Andyshine77]

We sell a lot of these saws, they're a bit overpriced, but are still 75$ less than the MS260, and 110$ less than the MS261. The only time we have issues with these saws and the MS280's also is when guys run dull chains, and horse on the saw. When they run the saw likes this they pull out the spring A/V mounts but that's a real small minority maybe 2-3 out of the 75-100 of them we've sold. Good running solid saws.

I have no doubt they make a good saw, but the overall design IMHO is not what I would call streamlined, it's like half a pro saw and half a homeowner saw lol.

 

[madrone]

I've owned both saws and wouldn't hesitate for a second to say go for the 260 if you can swing the extra $. It's well worth it.

If you plan on keeping the saw for a while, sooner or later something will break and the 260 is a joy to work on compared to the 270.
I'd never buy anything in the 1123 or 1133 series again.