I’m looking for a new general purpose chainsaw. It’ll be my primary saw for cutting down 6-18” trees and turning such trees into firewood. I’m partial to Stihl as I’ve used them in the past but would consider anything. I don’t need top of the line but don’t want junk either. What’ve you guys got and like?

Stihl 261 would be my go to.

If you have a good dealer near by go with that. I cut 8-10 standard cord per year with a Stihl and a Husquarva and happy with both. My son likes his Stihl. I tell him Husky is better. That cranks him up and he cuts more wood.

Husqvarna 455 rancher with a 20' bar would be a good all around saw for what you're wanting it for.

I have run husky's and stilh for the last 35 years and jonsred before that.. The Stilh 500i fuel injected saw with a 20 or 24 inch Bar is what you should look at. With a skip tooth chain it is a wood eating machine!!

Got a sthil 261 for my work truck saw and a 55 Rancher for my personal b!tch saw. Use it for cutting/felling to cutting holes in ice, very reliable. My other saw is a Husky 562xp, same weight as the rancher but a pro saw, more power & $. I like the 261 cuz its power/weight/$ ratio is good. Stil, husky….both good, but if you’re walking around the bush a lot with it…..ya gotta consider weight.

We only carry two non climbing saws on the truck now, a 500i and a 261. The 500i is a beast for heavy use and big trees.

The 454 rancher if you want a saw that run and cuts.

Stihl 271 farm boss is what I have been using the last few years with no issues. Eric

X2

Used my 261 today to drop some 20" locust. A very good value saw for cutting firewood is the old ms250. I use it with my smaller 16in bar for alot of firewood cutting. Lighter weight than my 261 with the 18" bar. But, the 261 does have more umph behind it....at about 2x the price. The ms250 can be bought on sale around here for a deal a few times a year.
No regrets on either purchase.

I have both, husky and Stihl. I prefer the Stihl myself. But both are good brands if you stay away for the box store models.

I have a Husky and my son has a Stihl. Both are good.

X2 had a 261 for several years and it just plain works. It is a pro model. Stick with a pro model irregardless of brand and youll likely be just fine. Cry once, buy once....

I usually get upwards to 250+ cords on my Stihl 460's before anything major goes wrong. I sell firewood

Can't go wrong with a good stihl.

I have a Stihl , no problems . I hear husky is good also


While checking reviews on both recently , I kept coming across great reviews on Echo ....seems odd to me but alot of great reviews out there on a brand I would never have considered

455 rancher

mine is actually a Jonsered 2255 18 inch bar 3/8 chisel chain

it came with a 20 inch bar and low kick back chain

but I prefer it 18 inch bar and chisel or semi chisel and it cuts very well.

it is my go to general purpose saw , I need to get to rebuilding my carb I have the kit sitting here , my saw is a 2014 this is the first repair besides chains and bars.

I run a Stihl in 390 if your doing firewood your going have free wood offers that might be bigger trees then your planning on bigger is better.

I"ve had a lot of saws over the years..... but my last saw (s) I'll ever buy will be a Stihl. Simply the best. I have a 291 with a 20" bar and also a 180 with a 16" bar. Going to buy another 180 just so my brother can help me trim fence line and field edge trees around our farms.