Help me decide

Buying a new saw tomorrow. Needing something with a 20” bar.
I have a 311 with a 25” and a 171 with a 16”, HT105 pole saw and a 193t with I think a 14”. had a 250 or 251 years back and was a decent saw but leaning towards maybe a 261 ? Looking to spend 800 at the most.

 

261 is a great saw, I run a 20" bar on mine with great results.
Husky 550xp is a little better (and a lil heavier) than the 261 if a person ain't prejudice.

 

Not prejudice per say but never owned anything but Stihl. Threatened to try a husky over the years but don’t have any complaints with Stihl so never did. I will look at the 550 tho. Thank you.

 

I know a place you can get a new 550xp for $530 power head only, no bar & chain.

 

My first real saw. I run it with an 18” bar. Have used it with a 25” full comp yellow link chain.

the three I have in my stable at the moment.

MS180C, MS362C and the Holzforma G660


I inherited the 180. The 362 was like $860, the G660 was $320.

They make light work of my tree projects that’s for sure.

 

261 is a solid choice for your money. I’ve used them professionally since they came out and can’t think of a complaint. It’s a dependable saw.

 

Not trying to dissuade you from getting a new saw, cause everyone always needs a new saw, but why not just put a 20'' bar on that 311?

 

I agree w monster. You have 59cc, why not just flip from 20&25” bars when needed?
And I’ll also second SawdustMan, at least see if you can make a cut or 2 with a 550xp mkII. Might like it. And save some $$ doing so.

 

You gotta be hard core to not be impressed with the Husky 50cc offering. Got mine out and used it a bit on Friday afternoon just because I haven't for a while. So smooth. The only saw I own that has a name. It's name is Pepe. I think the Mkii has slightly more beans to it, but mine doesn't like a 20" bar running 3/8 chain. Would think .325 would be more agreeable.

 

I really tried hard to NOT be impressed with the 550xp mkii, but it's just an impressive machine, (even if it is the ugliest saw on the planet).
I have both the 550 and an ms261 and run them quite a bit semi professionally, both saws are stock.....weather I like it or not the husky outperforms the Stihl.
Not that the 261 is any kind of a slouch, it's just that the ugly husky is just a little meaner...imo.

Btw, I run 20" .325 on both saws.

 

Yeah 550xp is nice , I don't mind the looks but that is just me.

Now don't get me wrong , I am more of a Stihl gut but do have a few Husky's with no complaints.
However this is what I call ugly. It looks like they couldn't decide what they were building.

 

I've never got to run a 261 but know a guy with one. I trust it's one heck of a saw. I think the 550s look ok from the starter side. The output side is pretty ungangly. lol I don't really care for the gray...would prefer them all orange. I put a 545 cover on my 550 to make it more orange.

 

It's all in one's perspective...... I'm not bothered buy that guy at all, the new huskies just look evil to me.

 

I don't care for the spikes , like they are not facing the right direction or something.
Agree on the grey cover , almost like they forgot to send them to the finishing department.

 

Yeah the mismatched clutch cover is stupid imo, just looks like something that was pieced together outta the scrap bin...

 

A local dealer sells both Husky and Stihl , I will look at both this afternoon. One thing I like to do is ask the guys in the back - they know what comes in more often and harder to repair and get parts etc.

 

this is actually what I have been doing , it isn’t often I have to swap mid job but I prefer to set one down and pick the right tool up. I find myself either using a saw too big or too small just because. And my wife greenlighted another one and I must strike while the iron is hot.

 

Yup , Get while the getting is good.
Always nice too when you have a second reliable saw ready to go.

 

I think one being "better" than the other depends on the individual. The 550 vs the 261 that is. I have a mid 60's friend in Ohio who has been in the performance chainsaw game longer than anyone I know. He has 27 ported saws from many builders as well as many stock saws. Some new in box duplicate saws...just in case. Anyway, he has Stihl, Husqvarna, Echo and Dolmar saws. His favorite 50cc saws are the 550 and the 261 but for different reasons for each. Speaking about stock here. He said the 550 is better / faster at limbing because its really zippy and revvy. It is heavier though. He said the 261 is a better big wood saw and pulls a buried bar better than a 550. The 550 requires a light hand in big wood. I've ran one 550 and thats the impression I got as well in a big hard maple log I test saws in here. He said ported by a competent builder they both are stout. He's a no brand Koolade guy and if it sucks he tells me and sells it. " life's to short to operate sub par saws". His words. Lol.

Then there are the known issues with 5 series Husqvarna crank bearing failure and hot starting issues, both of which the 261 does not have from what I understand.

One other point my friend makes is Stihl saws usually bring a higher resale percentage from new compared to the other saws.

It really comes down to personal preference and what you are cutting and dealer support between these two in my opinion. If you go with a 5 series Husqvarna, run quality oil and more of it. Like 32:1. It helps keep the plastic caged bearings alive I'm told.

 

And to be clear, this guy isn't a cookie cutter, saw racer, GTG attending guy. He cuts wood, lots of it.