Cordless saw: Stihl MSA 300 vs. 200?

[peds]

11 hours ago, Macpherson said:

I started with Stihl full chiz 3/8" which I run on most of my saws, and I know you're thinking ' that'll hurt the battery' but it doesn't as it cuts much quicker and may actually do more work per charge.

Also with the bigger chain the sprocket is of a larger diameter although with fewer teeth as the bigger chain won't go round such a small radius and the knock on effect of this is a higher chain speed, or gearing up.

 

You went 14"? I'm torn between sticking with the current 12", as I've been using it mostly up a tree, and will continue to do so; or squeezing in another couple of inches. Which will definitely have an impact on battery life.

[AHPP]

I have 16” 3/8 pico 1.3mm on my 220 and I often do a full day on two 300s batteries. That’s big trees but usually rigging small numbers of big pieces. I don’t cut and chuck or shred stuff very often. It’s only felling or firewooding that the charger (the top end one) can’t keep up with. 

Edited Sunday at 11:18 by AHPP

[peds]

All interesting information to plug into the algorithm. I don't think I'd get the full use of 16" as I do do a bit more of the stuff you mention, but it does make sense to go up to 14" anyway. Especially as the 161t will be a 12".

 

Right, decision made. Thanks for the input, chaps.

[AHPP]

Having only a 2” difference doesn’t seem worthwhile to me. My usual arsenal is 12”, 16”, 25”, 36”. Roughly 10” gaps. The 12” hardly ever gets used. I’m minded to replace it with 8” or 10” (depending on whether I get a Milwaukee Hatchet or a 2511T for a bit of cut and chuck). 
 

And extra drag is only really extra drag when it’s in the wood.

 

Better to have it and not need it for the negligible extra weight and sharpening burden.

Edited Sunday at 14:07 by AHPP

[peds]

But then it'd be bigger than my 345 and my 550, both 15", which doesn't sit right with me.

 

I could put an 18 on the 345 and a 24 on the 550, but... 

[AHPP]

Yes. Troubling. 

[AHPP]

I find it hard enough to sleep soundly with 24” and 25” both existing.

@Rob D. What was it you were doing to simplify bar and chain choice? Making everything multiples of 5” or 6” would help me sleep better. In time, multiples of 10cm no doubt. When we old imperials have died and America measures only in roentgen. 

[Mark_Skyland]

Bar sizes and the interpretation of what a bar size is is bollocks to say the least. Its a unit of measure, it cant be that difficult to give an accurate description. Saw body to the end of the bar tip =X give quoting a new bar and chain to account for wear.

 

 

 

[gand]

12 hours ago, AHPP said:

I have 16” 3/8 pico 1.3mm on my 220 and I often do a full day on two 300s batteries. That’s big trees but usually rigging small numbers of big pieces. I don’t cut and chuck or shred stuff very often. It’s only felling or firewooding that the charger (the top end one) can’t keep up with. 

Not sure if it's been mentioned but, the MSA220 now comes with the 3/8 1.1mm full chisel now and it rips through wood for it's size. I've put the same chain on my 200T and it's a great upgrade 👌 

[AHPP]

10 hours ago, gand said:

Not sure if it's been mentioned but, the MSA220 now comes with the 3/8 1.1mm full chisel now and it rips through wood for it's size. I've put the same chain on my 200T and it's a great upgrade 👌 

Interesting. How does it cut compared to 1/4 picco on saws like the 2511t, 151t, 161t?