Saw comparison MS261/ MSA300

[RobG 86]

Good evening, I hope you're all well. Looking to buy a new saw and after some advice between the MS261 and the MSA300. What are peoples opinions and thoughts.

 

Any help good or bad welcome.  will be doing mainly logs and 2-3 tress a month . 

 

Thanks in advance.

[peatff]

Skogsforum did a comparison video.

 

[Stere]

msa300 is abit of a novelty i reckon

 

Alot heavier than  the ms261 and you will get through batteries fast if you cut much of the bigger stuff that the saw is designed for so you will need a few.

 

So a big investment for something that in many ways in   less all round useful than the ms261.

 

 

 

I'd say better  getting  the ms261 & if you want a stihl battery one get the msa220 in addition .

 

 

Edited February 3, 2023 by Stere

[Sviatoslav Tulin]

Msa 300 is a brick ,not even close to ms 261, heavyweight, hungry and just bad shape, only one battery saw I liked it’s Echo little top handle saving money for this one.I tried Husqiy battery top handle and didn’t like it at all ,it just me but battery saws is not there yet.Maybe for small maintenance.

[RobG 86]

Thanks all for the feed back. Really appreciate it. 

[Trailoftears]

I'd have to say get the 261, particularly if you have to buy all the infrastructure that goes with buying the battery one-charger,2/3 batteries etc.Also-I may be wrong on this,but I suspect the battery version may well come out heavier than the 261 with the recommended battery which I regard as a bit of a poisoned chalice tbh.The 261's sweet spot is probably a 16" bar,but it will cheerfully run an 18" too,also if you want to,it will feel bonkers on a 14" bar too.Probabably stihls best all round pro saw for most people's wants for q.a few years.

[RobG 86]

Thanks. Really appreciate the response 

[Peter 1955]

On 20/02/2023 at 20:23, Trailoftears said:

I'd have to say get the 261, particularly if you have to buy all the infrastructure that goes with buying the battery one-charger,2/3 batteries etc.Also-I may be wrong on this,but I suspect the battery version may well come out heavier than the 261 with the recommended battery which I regard as a bit of a poisoned chalice tbh.The 261's sweet spot is probably a 16" bar,but it will cheerfully run an 18" too,also if you want to,it will feel bonkers on a 14" bar too.Probabably stihls best all round pro saw for most people's wants for q.a few years.

Although I have done very little with it so far, just got a 261 and already fallen in love with it. 14" bar on mine, as I have just got my other true love a 400 for bigger jobs. I suspect that once you factor in batteries and chargers, the cost differential will be minimal. 

[Trailoftears]

Admittedly being a happy owner I have a dog in this race,but I find the 261 an absolute pleasure to use,reasonably lightweight,flexible with suprising power for its 50cc class.Its also a nice bonus to be able to buy the older picco super kit really cheaply and again it races thru most wood types on that particular setup.

[Peter 1955]

36 minutes ago, Trailoftears said:

Admittedly being a happy owner I have a dog in this race,but I find the 261 an absolute pleasure to use,reasonably lightweight,flexible with suprising power for its 50cc class.Its also a nice bonus to be able to buy the older picco super kit really cheaply and again it races thru most wood types on that particular setup.

A few years ago, I got a 251 to replace a twenty year old 023, which had been my go to saw. I thought it would be a big step up, similar weight, and power upgrade. Boy, was I wrong! It actually seemed to have less power, and wasn't as nice to use. Getting a 400 caused me to realise that a 261 was the saw I should have bought, I've done very little with it, but love it already.