stihl chainsaw

15acre&mule · Sep 4, 2008

I got prices of

MS 290: $389.00
MS 310: $419.00
MS 390: $479.00

Are these good prices or should i look somewhere else?

I'm also interested in the husky brands of similar size.

Birdmayon · Sep 4, 2008

I've got an MS310, and I'd say from memory that price looks like it's in the ballpark. One question, how much use is this saw going to get? Reason I ask is, for a few hundred more you can get an MS260 pro saw that should far outlast the Farm Bosses, but even more important, it's a few pounds lighter. Doesn't seem like a big deal but if you're cutting all day, the weight really makes a difference. If I could go back in time I would have upgraded to the 260. That said, the Farm Boss saws are very nice and I've had no issues with mine.

pitt_md · Sep 4, 2008

15acre&mule said:
I got prices of

MS 290: $389.00
MS 310: $419.00
MS 390: $479.00

Are these good prices or should i look somewhere else?

I'm also interested in the husky brands of similar size.

I don't know the new stihl models but I just bought a Husky rancher with 18" bar for $379 plus tax. It's a heavy saw compared to my stihl 028 super wood boss.

easygo · Sep 4, 2008

I bought an MS-390 a two or three years ago. If I recall correctly it was about $450. So with the inflation your price is on par I'd say. I went with the 390 because it is the same weight as the others and it has a decompression valve and a little extra power. The fuel tank could be larger but that is no big deal. They are all good saws. Stihl and Husky both.

RavensRoost · Sep 4, 2008

15acre&mule:
The answer pretty much depends on what you are going to use the saw for and how much.

The MS290 (ex-029) is Stihl's best selling saw, ever and is certainly enough saw for cutting firewood on a casual basis, limbing and so forth. If you need to fell a lot of trees and big ones, and/or plan to cut a lot of firewood then the conventional wisdom is go with the MS361. The nearest size Husky to the 361 is the 357XP. A decent alternative to the MS290 is a Husky 350 and Lowe's might still sell them.

If you need to do a lot of limbing in addition to felling and bucking, then the "two saw" plan of one small/light one and one powerful one is a good way to go...but $$$.

Both the MS361 and the 357XP are "pro" saws and will last a long time, the others less long....but may be plenty long enough depending on what you have in mind.

RavensRoost

schmism · Sep 4, 2008

i payed about $450 for my 039.. 12 years ago

studor · Sep 4, 2008

I have had a 290 for about five years now and it has never had any problems. That price looks Ok but Stihl here often has a deal where you get a case, a carton of oil, hat and spare chain -- don't know about in the U.S but it would be worthwhile to check cause the 290 is often one of the saws in the deal package

WayneB · Sep 4, 2008

Husqvarna just introduced their new Rancher 460 and the price is $429. I have the 455 with a 20" bar, nice saw but a bit heavy.

http://www.usa.husqvarna.com/files/Husqvarna/Local/usa/Documents/Demo_consumer.pdf

GeneD14 · Sep 4, 2008

I agree you should shop for the best deal or even try to get the dealer to throw in some free-bees. I don't think that you can go wrong with any that you mentioned. About 5 years ago I bought the 290 and I see them on ebay used for as much as I paid 5 years ago. From what I've read on the professional arborist sites the MS 361 is the ultimate Stihl saw in that size range.
Good Luck!!!

Solo · Sep 4, 2008

You can look on this web page MS 290 STIHL FARM BOSS? Chain Saw - STIHL Incorporated USA - Products - Manufacturing the World's Number One Selling Brand of Chain Saws and put in your zip code to find pricing in your area.

Solo

3RRL · Sep 4, 2008

Speaking of Solo, I went the 2 saw way. I had a MS310 for general purpose around here, but wanted a smaller limbing saw. The local corner hardware store was closing down and had a couple Solo 633 top handled saws. I bought one for 1/2 price and love it. It is super lightweight and fast. Even Loretta uses it.
Had I known I would end up with 2 saws, I would have bought the larger MS361. But at that time they were pretty expensive and the MS310 filled the bill for an all-around saw.

schmism · Sep 4, 2008

there have been a number of "what saw should i get" threads.

having a large trunk saw and a smaller limbing saw for the past 10 years, i can tell you there is no better saw setup.

its my experience, get as big as a saw as you can afford. then pick up a smaller limbing saw.

anything over 8-10" i break out the large saw and with a "pro" chain full chisel (although mine is left over from the old days when they didnt give you a plastic toothed chain (er "safty chain") saying "it is safer for you") and can out cut my smaller limbing saw on the same material 2 or 3 to one.

kennyd · Sep 4, 2008

15acre&mule said:
I got prices of

MS 290: $389.00
MS 310: $419.00
MS 390: $479.00

Are these good prices or should i look somewhere else?

I'm also interested in the husky brands of similar size.

I know in my area, and I'd guess others as well the prices are set by Stihl, so no matter where you go the prices will be the same.

Solo · Sep 4, 2008

kennyd said:
I know in my area, and I'd guess others as well the prices are set by Stihl, so no matter where you go the prices will be the same.

I don't think that is true in all areas. I priced a cultivator for my FS85 there was $120 difference between dealers no more than 25 miles apart.

Solo

RavensRoost · Sep 4, 2008

3RRL said:
Speaking of Solo, I went the 2 saw way. I had a MS310 for general purpose around here, but wanted a smaller limbing saw. The local corner hardware store was closing down and had a couple Solo 633 top handled saws. I bought one for 1/2 price and love it. It is super lightweight and fast. Even Loretta uses it.
Had I known I would end up with 2 saws, I would have bought the larger MS361. But at that time they were pretty expensive and the MS310 filled the bill for an all-around saw.

Rob, chainsaws are like guns: you can never have too many and they are addictive!

I have:
Husky 142, 51, 357XP, 372XP
Solo 681
Poulan 2150 "Wlid Thing"

Please do not tell my wife......

RavensRoost

tomd999 · Sep 4, 2008

Raven,

Have to disagree with you on that one, chainsaws aren't like guns.

Guns are far more addictive. Saws are work, guns aren't and you can hide guns easier from the wife. Not to mention all those hours at the gun store would have to be spent at the power equipment guy, just not the same.

Besides, ever try to get your wife to fell a tree or cut rounds for you? I can get mine to run off a few hundred rounds of 22 pretty easy, she hasn't touched a chainsaw in 20 years.

(I had a girlfriend that would reload ammo for me. Why didn't I marry that one???

)

just my 2 sents,

Tom

Pilot · Sep 7, 2008

I'm too cheap to buy new. Found a nice 029 with 3 extra chains on Craigslist for $250. That's in the ballpark with what I see on Ebay.

Have an old Homlite with the same size engine and bar--bought the Stihl because I couldn't get parts for the Homelite any more.

Wow! What a difference! The Stihl goes thru wood about twice as fast as the Homelite. Now, that Homelite is old (Super XL, bought used in 1975) and maybe the engine has some wear, but I doubt it was ever nearly as good as the Stihl. And the Stihl is about 3 lbs lighter. So I think that MS290 is a good choice if you want new.

Hookblock · Sep 7, 2008

I have a 260 pro about 450$ and a 6 pack of oil, the 260 is 3# lighter than than the 290. After cutting wood all weekend a big difference. Best all around saw I have