Hello

[DennyT]

Hello 
Thanks for letting me on the forum .
I live in mid Missouri woods . We heat our house via a outdoor wood stove , using about 7 cords a year. I cut or did cut mostly oak and hickory - 95% 15 inches or less and  chip up all the 3 inch limbs for mulch,

I ran a maruyama/dolmar mc51 for 8 year but a need a new saw this year. 
Certainly not in the level you guys are, but I would like to hear you thoughts on the ms271 or the husky 450.  They're at top of what can  I afford. Could get the husky at Lowe's and get 10% veterans discount or stihl at dicky bubd  with 5%. 
Oh yeah my  repair shop sells Jonsered and he offered  a 20"2250 for $ 390 - 
All right there together 20"/50cc or so.

Interest in you pros thoughts if you could spare the time.

Thanks
Denny

[Old Greenhorn]

Welcome to the forum Denny.
 If you read around here a bit, you should quickly see that there is some basic advice that runs through most of the posts of this sort (and also for other common questions). In this case, that would be to buy from a dealer and not a box store. If you get a lemon or a problem saw (and every manufacturer can have that happen) the box store will give you no help. They also can't do routine service or repairs, so you are on your own there too. If you have a good dealer with competent help (another 'maybe') go with what they carry that fits your needs.
 I cut about 10 cords/year now and have a 450 that gets run every week and some days are long ones. I bought it from a local dealer but never needed to bring it back for anything. It has held up very well with only cleaning and tuning on my part and I run a few different bars and chains on it depending on what I am into that day. It's a great saw....for me. I also have a 372 that comes out when things get a little more serious but that isn't too often. I do fix and maintain any issues with my saws when they come up.
 My neighbor has a brand new 271 and I had my hands on it last week. It had a lo-pro chain, which I avoid because in my opinion, they don't throw much of a chip and of course it came with a safety chain which I also avoid. (My 450 runs .325 x .050 chain and I use full chisel, either round or square ground depending on my mood.) I am not knocking Stihl, it's a good saw, but that just seemed like a lot more of a lightweight homeowner saw than the 450 (which is also a homeowner/farm saw I think). My neighbor doesn't run his enough to know how it is holding up, but I do know the 450 is working fine for me.
 Good luck on your choice, but try to buy from a dealer if you can, those few extra bucks keep those guys open and may save your bacon one day when you really need it.
Tom

[thecfarm]

There has been some posts on a echo. I need a saw that size. Saves on my shoulder.
Welcome to the forum. You will like it here.
How are you getting the wood out?

[ButchC]

Welcome to the forums. If you must depend on a dealer for all but basic maintenance then go with the offerings from the best/closest servicing dealer. If you can keep it going on your own then that opens you up to the best choice. In your price range and needs my money would go on a 590 Echo. Although the bulk of my saws are pro grade Stihl I like the Echos better than the mid grade Stihl or Husky offerings.

[Texas Ranger]

Howdy, bub, welcome to the forum.  Fill out your information, if you would, what part Missouri?  I'm from Franklyn County.

[mad murdock]

Welcome to the Forestry Forum!  I have run saws professionally in the woods for years, my absolute favorite saws to this day are the 10 series McCullochs.  But you are asking about new saws, I prefer the Husky pro saws, in the woods where I am, I run a 372, 390, and 395, the 395 is the prime mover on my sawmill. Stihl makes decent saws, I just hunk that they are a bit on the pricey side, and I don't like how they feel in the hands after running one all day day in day out. As far as intermediate sized says, new, available these days, I would go with Echo before I would go with either Husky or Stihl, as I think that Echo saws have the same build quality in their whole line, they don't build a "big box" store flavor for the non pro user(at least to my knowledge), definitely don't like to run the safety link chains either,  anyways, work safe, take advantage of the latest chainsaw safety equipment, As far as chaps, head protection etc, and have an awesome time in the FF, tons of great ppl here!

[DennyT]

There has been some posts on a echo. I need a saw that size. Saves on my shoulder.
Welcome to the forum. You will like it here.
How are you getting the wood out?

I got a 2004 envoy that i use to drag downed logs into open to cut up then home  made trailer. To get home  along with limbs for mulch . 
Most of the post oak and hickory are small enough that don't need to split but I do get one to heavy to throw into trailer I use an old fashion 16 lb monster mail. I'm 76 and figure paying $1200 for a splitter probably isnt worth it for the few years   I can still cut , 
In reality we are getting to the point where the mulch is just as important as the fire wood. 
I got a Mckissic 12pt that chips up 3 inch branch's. . 
Glad to be here. 
I bit the bullet today and bought the MS271  with 20"" bar  at local dealer this morning .

[DennyT]

Thanks to all . I went with the stihl basically cause they were the one with a really dealer in my neck if the woods , . Everything  else was a box store. 

We have a gas station that sells ethanol free premium. Is that just as good for you saw mixed with good synthetical oil as the trufuel type stuff

[Happysawer]

Thanks to all . I went with the stihl basically cause they were the one with a really dealer in my neck if the woods , . Everything  else was a box store.

We have a gas station that sells ethanol free premium. Is that just as good for you saw mixed with good synthetical oil as the trufuel type stuff

I am sure you will be happy going with STIHL and the local Dealer, my Dealer been around 59 years, i have bought a lot from them over 40 years and they sell both Echo and STIHL the STIHL out sell the Echo's both are really good quality just the Pro's stick with STIHL's around here.
Going with a local Dealer over any Lowes or Home Depot is wise,i have seen how they will hire anyone to do service and when things go south they tell you sorry about that and they turn their backs on you.

[Southside]

Welcome to the Forum.  My opinion on gas.  Guess I should ask if this is an electronic saw first because I don't know if the computers learn differently based on fuel type, so that might change things.  If you don't run the saw on a regular basis - say weekly - then spring for the ethanol free as that will reduce issues with moisture in the gas.  If you only run it once in a while, then the canned stuff might be best.  

Personally I run pump 87 octane with corn in it, but my saws run just about every day so gas does not sit around for long.     

[Real1shepherd]

Denny, what do you do with the mulch?

Kevin

[thecfarm]

I run high grade in all my small engines. Not saying it makes things better, but I do know my Chevy Colorado truck runs better on it.  ;)

[DennyT]

Denny, what do you do with the mulch?

Kevin

We use it around all the landscaping. Missus likes roses .  I leave  it a year - two at the most. By then it well on the way to decomposing and I spread it in the vegetable garden. Any thing make our Missouri clay and rocks better. 
The chipper came with a 1 inch screen so the mulch comes out about 3/4 chips so it decomposes pretty quick.
 

[Bricklayer51]

i bought a 271 6 years ago and it has been a great saw but i just do firewood

[mike_belben]

Swingin a maul at 76?  God bless ya old timer, ya got most of us licked for sure.

[firefighter ontheside]

Welcome aboard Denny.  I'm about an hour from you outside of Desoto MO.  I go thru Rolla often, either to fish or to camp.  You said you got the Stihl.  Is that the 271?  I have the 291 with a 20" bar.  It does fine, but I feel a little underpowered for 20".  It has been a great saw and compliments my old 025 well.

[thecfarm]

I went and looked at the 450, 50cc. Going back Thursday to pick it up. It looks like a chainsaw.  :D  As I said in another thread, I had a Efco,52cc. I walked in with the bar and chain and told them to match it with a saw. I have a spare bar and 3 chains when the Efco died. So did not want to just throw all those spare parts away. I also ordered another bar for the 372 Husky. I like to keep spares on hand.
You will like that Stihl. It's a chainsaw.  :D