What type of Stihl to buy?

[MikeInParadise]

Love to try the saw but Summerford is a little too far away. Thanks for the info.

Yup that is a little far to travel to try out a saw! I have never been up in that area.

There is a MS260 (No Decomp valve on EBay in Canada now) that might be in your price range but of course you always takes your chances on EBay stuff.

http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=010&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&viewitem=&item=200074014921&rd=1&rd=1

Good Luck!

 

[stumpjumper83]

bought a 250 as an in the middle saw between my echo 330t and my 460mag. I use it as my ground limber and trimmer and I'll climb with it for removals that need its 18" bar. I guess alot depends on wood species. If I was in 18" > softwood and wasn't cutting for production, I'd use my 250. Usually I end up in 20" + hardwood and cutting firewood and logs for production so I use the 460 alot. If I you would like I think I can get you a used 044 for about that price, then ship it ups to you. I dunno If my local dealers have any but there is usually a logger upgrading to the 460 or 660.

 

[NYH1]

How about a MS280.

 

[Trigger-Time]

but of course you always takes your chances on EBay stuff.

Good Luck!

Yes you do, I threw the dice yesterday on a 026. Had a BIN for $140 US.
I have bought saw parts on E-Bay but never a saw. Will wait and see
how it turns out.

 

[Fiore Indiana]

I think you should get the MS280. If you are willing to spend more money get a professional saw MS260 or MS361 for more durability. The MS290/MS310/MS390 weigh more than stihl claims at least that is what I have seen posted here on AS. Dont forget in the real world to add weight of bar & chain & oil & fuel mix. MY MS361 weighs less than any of those 3 with more power. When I use a saw for a long period of time it does make a difference for me. Good luck. Please reply back on your next saw choice purchase & how you like it better.

 

[Stihl Crazy]

The MS 280 is no longer available in Canada, the MS 310 is not either.

 

[windthrown]

Not the anchor...

You may have missed the question, he's not looking for a boat anchor.

Now now... we have a 290 and stihl use it with a 20" bar. Not suitable for being a boat anchor. It is now the backup saw when it is not a doorstop.

 

[NYH1]

The MS 280 is no longer available in Canada, the MS 310 is not either.

How about a MS270 then.

 

[epicklein22]

ms270

I have a ms270 and so far it has been a champ. I have cut over 10 cords with it since I bought it in july and not one problem.

 

[bwalker]

I don't think people understand what we pay for saws here in Atlantic Canada. A good deal on a new 361 is around $800. New 260 is $675. A 359 is over $700.

At those prices I would be making a trip down to Maine..

 

[NYH1]

As for the MS290 they're nice saws for the price. I have a 029. I bought mine with a 20" b&c. I would recommend a 18" b&c instead. I'm not crazy about the power to weight ratio either but for the money................... It's not a pro saw but it doesn't look like you can get a pro saw for $500 or less in your area. Since you can't get a MS280, and "if" you can't get a MS270, the MS290 would definitely be worth looking at.

 

[zzrcanuck]

I have an ms 250 and it's a good little saw but the vibrations are by far worse than any of my other saws.
I don't know if this is the case with all ms 250's or if mine's special in that regard. The husqvarna 353 I used to have was a much better saw, I highly recommend it for the tasks you've described!

 

[Stihlwrench]

The MS260 has a 10lb powerhead vs the MS290's 13lb. The 260 is more durable in my opinion due to the crankcase being sandwiched between the 2 halves of the frame. The 290 uses a modular engine that bolts ON the frame. The 290 frame is shared with the MS310 but the 310 has a few more cc's. Any Stihl dealer worth his salt should make these differences clear to you before you spend your hard earned $$. Three pounds might not seem like much in the showroom but at the end of the day the 260 will make the extra bucks worth it. Down in my neck of the woods a 260Pro with an 18" bar is less than 500 and a 290 w/18" goes for about $370. Hope this helps.

 

[Stihl Crazy]

The MS 270 is here, but costs more than 290, but is probably a better choice.

 

[chainysaw]

Thanks for all the info guys. Well seems to me that the 260 would be a better choice. Hope the price is right when i go to get the saw!

 

[Freakingstang]

just out of curiousity, what does a 440,460 or 660 go for in Canada? Seems we take things for granted at our costs....

 

[Trigger-Time]

Seems we take things for granted at our costs....

I thought the same thing, but the amount of money you
make per hour or year.......................

 

[chainysaw]

Not sure of the prices of all the saws mentioned but for example, the MS290 is selling for $399.

 

[zzrcanuck]

just out of curiousity, what does a 440,460 or 660 go for in Canada? Seems we take things for granted at our costs....

Last time I looked the 440 was well over $1,000 CDN

 

[Stihl Crazy]

I asked the local dealer last month about prices. These are as close as I can remember, 440 was $1050, 460 and 441 were just under $1100, 660 was almost $1200. Add 14% tax to that price. Some sellers may give you a break. There is a dealer in another province that has 440's for $875

I just got the Baileys catalogue and saw somthing interesting, 346-$419.95 and 5100-$409.95. $10.00 difference

Here a 346 is $725 and 5100 is $499. $226 difference. Seems Dolmar gives us a break on high prices.