The 250 is my all around go to saw. I have not had a job it would not take care of. Not to heavy to swing all day. I see on peoples list in here and other people have saws from a 440 to a 880 stihls. Am I missing out not having a bigger saw ? I know it may take a little longer to get through a tree but is it wort the money and weight to go bigger?
I've had 2 025 and a 250 and sell as quick as possible. Good saws for 45cc. But I like my other 45cc 46cc saws better, metal crankcases etc.
It just depends what your needs,interests & work habits are. For some people a saw no bigger than 50cc will do everything they need.For others they need 80cc+ up to the biggest saw you can get. If you only need a big saw 2-3 times yearly at most,its not worth spending all that cash on one.
I worked 3 days around the house with a 39cc. Great for trim work cause light. Was on the hill with a 60cc and was wishing I had my 71cc to finish the cuts quicker. Yes it is nice having more then 1 saw to choose from IMO.
From a homeowner saw standpoint, the 025/250 is one of the best bangs for the buck out there. I agree Do big saws have a place? Yes sir they do. Even in similar sized wood, they will save you lots of time. A 025 and a 044 in the same 15" log with an 18" bar would be no contest. More wood in the truck, in less time. With that said, if what you have works for you? Then use it. But I will warn you, if you run a big saw, or worse yet, a big Ported saw? You won't be able to wipe the grin off your face. My neighbor has an 025 and when we do the testing of the bigger saws (65 cc saws) I will go next door and grab it. Just to give a comparison in time savings. If the 025 takes 15 seconds (just an example) and a Poulan 3750 or Solo 665 takes 7 seconds? You will reduce your cutting time in half, in the field.
I wouldn't be without the wee Echo top handle - my first saw,Christmas gift from parental units in 1981.Will set in the shed for 3-4 months at a time,fill the tank & always starts 3-4 pulls in any weather. Don't get as much use now,but its a tough little beast,barely 8 pounds,no chainbrake or even a handguard & only around 9000 RPM.But with razor sharp chisel chain will chew through the toughest White Oak or Hickory branches like no one's business....When I was younger it was my ''go-to'' saw when climbing/pruning/limbing.Still like using it for stuff up to 5 or 6 inch diameter.... Did some White Pine up to 8-9" last month here for chits & giggles...... If it ever dies am thinking about whatever's their current comparable model as a replacement....
I tryed a 290 and could not tell much difference other than it was heaver. Im sure I would see a bigger difference if I tryed a 440. I think there around 800 dollars
You can find a nice used one, for less than $500. I know where am early 10 mm model is for $350 right now. Less than $400 for an 044 is a good deal.
This past spring I limbed and bucked a small (11" dbh) soft maple with my rear-handle 192, with its little 14" bar. It wasn't quick in the cut, but it sure was nice carrying around a saw that was practically weightless, especially because the tree had fallen across a gulley so I was working my way up and down a slope and threading myself through a tangle of branches. Last year I bought and sold an almost-new MS250, and was pretty impressed with it, too. At the other end of my spectrum of experience I've had an 064 and an MS460, and I still have a 79cc Dolkita. They are great fun, but it's pretty rare that I want to cut up a tree that really demands one of those... which I guess is why I tend to fix them up, play with them briefly, and sell them. I can see the day coming when I'll sell the 7900, but I need to find an opportunity to have fun with it at least once more first. If I were to stop churning through saws and just settle down to a couple of them, I'd probably keep one really small saw and one medium-sized saw. I could hang onto my MS200 and an 034 or 036, and never really want for anything else. But that's just me, living where I live now, with the house and stove and vehicle and the trees I typically have available. Maybe the best thing I can say to Griz is that a 70+cc saw may or may not be worth the weight and cost, but a better saw than the 250 is almost certainly worth finding.
Ok, kidding aside... As a firewood guy one 60cc saw would work for me. But then when that one saw craps out in the middle of felling a tree... What do you do? So it only made sense to me to go the 50/70cc route. Now I know I can handle a 72cc saw... Makes me wonder about something closer to 90cc...
Im the 50 cc and lower guy. Weight is manageable.... And good power... And 16 inch bar. I dont mess with the bigger wood.... No need. But... Im now playing with a 60cc saw... And soon another And wanting 372 xp... Just to mess with and have a little fun !!! I personally cant physically hold the big saws very long. So my favorites are the Husqvarna 550 xp and my little echo echo echo of coarse ! Those are all i "need" lol.
Just cracks me up... I have this buddy that goes clearing brush and little saplings all day with an old Stihl 044 ! Bendin down all day to flush cut with a 70 cc saw is not on my bucket list !!! But all size chainsaws have there purpose. I make fun of no chainsaws... cept Stihl lol
Friend of mine never used nothing bigger then 46cc for as long as I known him, over 20 years. Echo 452 and poulan 260 was his saws. I let him try my partner 5000 and he fell in love. He now owns a partner 500 and a partner 550 I gave him.
Dad's big saw is 54cc poulan 3300 for 21 years, then a mini mac 130 same time frame. I gave him a ms290 for a big saw and he gave it back a few months later saying he liked the poulan better. I then gave him my poulan 2000 I bought new in 1994 to relpace the cankras 130. Some smaller saws too for back ups. Tried given him a poulan 2100 over the 2000 later cause of the coil spring av. Be he declined.
Not all Stihl's are the same & Poulan's made before the late '90's are a whole different saw than the ones sold today.. ....
