Stihl ms310 vs ms390

[kscutter]

I'm looking at getting a Stihl ms310 or ms390. Is the 390 worth the cost difference? ($60 difference at my dealer) The 390 is at the outer edge of my price range. I can't afford the ms361 or above

 

[computeruser]

Without knowing what you are intending to do with the saw, it is difficult to guess whether you actually need the extra .3hp. My guess, though, would be no, as I doubt that it would make that much of a difference. Let us know what you're planning on using the saw for, and then folks will probably be able to give you a better answer than my generalities.

That said, I suspect that you could get the same performance (or more) by opening up the muffler and retuning a 310. Perhaps you could apply the extra $60 that you would have spent on the 390 on quality chain and the equipment to keep it good and sharp? I think that'd be a better use of the $60.

I own a 290 and you can do a lot of work with that saw, it just isn't always the fastest. I can tell a difference between my 290 and my PS7900 Dolmar, but that's a big power jump. By contrast, I used a 310 once side-by-side with my 290 and couldn't tell that it had any more power than my saw. The 310 was using RM2 chain and surely cut slower than my 290 with properly sharpened RS chain. Just my 2 cents, take it for what it's worth.

 

[Diesel JD]

I have the MS390, it's big and heavy compared to teh smaller saws and it will cut great if you don't ask it to do too much. Can't comment on the 310...I thought it was too small for my needs...I really need to be able to run the 25" bar and most of these guys say even the 390 is too small for that...but it works for me... doubt I could do that with the 310....

 

[kscutter]

I'm not doing a lot a cutting, but when I do it seems that it's in big trees. I have several trees to cut down in my lot that are 32in. to 40 in. trunks. I have used the stihl 250 a little, but I'd like something that has a bigger bar (18" to 20") and is more aggressive (more power). I have an old poulan super 25DA, that is super light and still runs great, that I use for all the smaller diameter limbs.

 

[pinus]

Probably, the most important factor here is the bar length which will be used with this saw, presuming that the bar will be choosed keeping in mind properties of wood that will be cutted.
v.

 

[J_Ashley]

Computer User is right. Save the 60 bucks, and go with the MS310. Also, Ask the dealer to trade out the standard RM2 chain for the RS full chisel chain. Keep it sharp and I'd say you'll be a happy camper.

Justin

 

[fishhuntcutwood]

Get the 310 and open the muffler up. They're both the same saw, but with different bores. They weigh the same, but the hp difference is made up with a muffler mod, so the $60 is money well saved.

Jeff

 

[kscutter]

The 390 has a decompression valve. Do they work well? I really liked the elastotart on the ms250c. Stihl's info. says that this is an option for some saws. How much does that cost? T
Thanks for all the other information. I don't know how to "open up the muffler" on a saw. Is this easy to do, and does it void the warranty?

 

[fishhuntcutwood]

Decomp valves are nice. Even on smaller saws like a 260, they are a nice feature. It may be worth it to you to move into the 390 just for that reason. Not critical, but a nice feature. If memory serves, an Elastostart is like $18, rope included. As far as opening a muffler, it's also known as a muffler mod. There are several threads on here about muffler mods on the 029/290, which has the same muffler. Do a search for "029 muffler mod," and you'll find them. There's pictures and descriptions. Basically, you're just making the holes bigger, or adding holes altogether, thus "opening up" the muffler. You can open it up too much and just have a loud saw that doesn't make proportionate power, so do your homework (information is readily available here) and you can do it yourself.

And yes, I believe it will void your warranty.

Jeff

 

[SawTroll]

Get the 310 and open the muffler up. They're both the same saw, but with different bores. They weigh the same, but the hp difference is made up with a muffler mod, so the $60 is money well saved.
Jeff

I may be wrong, but I guess that the 390 will respond about as well to a muffler mod as the 310 will.

In my opinion, the decomp valve and extra power would be well worth the extra money.

 

[Diesel JD]

I like mine...it's going to get the muffler mod and carb adjustment after the 90 day warranty is over. The decomp valve is nice...but it's not neccessary.

 

[Lobo]

I may be wrong, but I guess that the 390 will respond about as well to a muffler mod as the 310 will.

In my opinion, the decomp valve and extra power would be well worth the extra money.

Yep ! and at about the same weight may as well have the extra hp and decomp., the canadian version of the 390 is 4.6 large ponies that is starting to be nice and respectable if you can live with the weight.

 

[Diesel JD]

It is a heavy saw...I was used to teh 025 as my firewood saw...big saw LOL, so the 390 took some getting used to, but I don't know how I did without it now, it sure makes short work of firewood projects.

 

[kscutter]

Thanks for all the information. I'm getting curious about the 361 after seeing a lot of good information about it on this site. I would have to wait another month to be able to afford it. Is it worth the wait? what makes it better than the 390? I know it weighs about a pound less, but the 390 has more hp.

Thanks again for the honest opinions and details. They really help.

 

[fishhuntcutwood]

Actually, according to Stihl's website, the 361 has .1 more hp than the 390.

As far as why it's better, where should I start? It weighs less, has better anti-vibe, better case construction, wider power band, see through gas tank, etc, etc. The 361 is a better saw far and away. The 290 series of saw are a good bunch of saws...for the homeowner. The 361 is a professional saw. It's a similar comparison as the 250 to the 260. And the pound difference is worth it's weight in gold.

If you're considering waiting a month to be able to afford the 361, then by all means wait. No question about it.

Jeff

 

[kscutter]

Thanks again Fish. I guess I was thinking about the difference in cc's. The 390 has about 64cc and the 361 has 59cc. I must admit that I don't know the first thing about engines, so I don't know what the difference in cc's makes. If anybody has any additional praises for the Stihl ms361, please feel free to share. The more ammo I have when I tell my wife I'm spending an additional hundred dollars more than originally planned the better.

 

[Lobo]

-Lighter saw causes less fatigue and makes it therefore safer.

- The MS361 is a model much in demand making its resale easy should the need arise..

- The MS361 is a model much in demand making its resale value higher.

- Very current up to date technology.

- Less vibrations

 

[FourMoCajuns]

I just upgraded from a Husky 55 Rancher which was supposed to be around about the equivilent of the 290. The MS361 is a dream...... almost a wet dream! OK well maybe not that much. It is SO smooth and you might not think a see-through gas tank is important well it sure comes in handy. Just do like I did.... I told the old lady that this saw was MUCH safer to use and she couldn't argue!

 

[SawTroll]

By all means get the MS361 in a month, if your opportunity to cut your wood doesn't fade away in the meantime.

If tou need the saw now, and want a nicer/better saw than 310/390, take a look at Baileys offer on the Husky 359......

 

[lockpickinglogger88]

Decomp valves are nice. Even on smaller saws like a 260, they are a nice feature. It may be worth it to you to move into the 390 just for that reason. Not critical, but a nice feature. If memory serves, an Elastostart is like $18, rope included. As far as opening a muffler, it's also known as a muffler mod. There are several threads on here about muffler mods on the 029/290, which has the same muffler. Do a search for "029 muffler mod," and you'll find them. There's pictures and descriptions. Basically, you're just making the holes bigger, or adding holes altogether, thus "opening up" the muffler. You can open it up too much and just have a loud saw that doesn't make proportionate power, so do your homework (information is readily available here) and you can do it yourself.

And yes, I believe it will void your warranty.

Jeff

No opening up mufflers doesn’t void the warranty if t did that means buys in mufflers would as well I mod every saw with bark boxes from wcs and still have the saws serviced