Which Stihl Chainsaw to Buy

Are you thinking about purchasing a new chainsaw but aren’t quite sure which one to choose? Let me give you a few tips that will help point you in the right direction.

Chainsaws are versatile, time-saving, and very powerful tools. It’s important that you match the right chainsaw to the job you need to do, as well as to your level of experience using the saw.

Let’s get started. The first thing you should do is ask yourself three questions:

How experienced am I with using a chainsaw?

What do I plan to cut with my chainsaw?

How big in diameter will the wood be that I plan on cutting?

Let’s start with the first question. If your answer was that you have little to no experience with a chainsaw, you should probably make as conservative a choice as possible. Although you want a chainsaw with the right power range and features to perform the task at hand, it’s best not to choose one with substantially more power than you need.

If you plan on using your chainsaw occasionally around the yard — say, clearing up after a storm or maintaining trees on your property — then you should consider a smaller, lightweight unit such as the MS 181 C-BE.

The MS 181 C-BE has plenty of power to handle tasks around your home, coupled with a reduced-emissions engine and bar lengths ranging from 12 to 16 inches.

All STIHL chainsaws come standard with the STIHL Quickstop chain brake, the Master Control Lever, a very comfortable anti-vibration system, and an automatic bar and chain oiler.

The MS 181 C-BE also comes with a STIHL Easy2Start feature, a purge pump, and a quick chain adjuster. The Easy2Start feature enables the user to start the engine with an almost effortless pull of the cord. Coupled with the purge pump, which ensures the fuel system is primed with cool, fresh fuel, the quick chain adjuster allows you to maintain proper chain tension without the need for a special tool or wrench.

If you’ll be using your chainsaw not only around the house, but also to cut some firewood or clear a few trees from your property, then you should consider stepping up to the more powerful MS 251 series.

Also equipped with a reduced-emissions engine, the MS 251 series handles bar lengths from 16 to 18 inches. Like the MS 181 C-BE, the MS 251 C-BE also comes with the Easy2Start feature, purge pump carburetor, and quick chain adjuster.

Finally, if you have a larger property such as a farm or ranch and you’ll be using your chainsaw on a regular basis, then you’ll want to consider moving up to a more powerful chainsaw that can support longer bar lengths and is built to stand up to constant heavy-duty use.

Take a look at the MS 271. The bar lengths on the 271 series range from 16 to 20 inches, and this series is packed with professional features and power built for those really big jobs.

Now for the third question: how big will the wood be that you intend to cut? This will be one of the most crucial decisions you’ll need to make when choosing the right chainsaw.

Oftentimes, people overestimate the size of the wood they’re going to cut and end up buying more saw than they actually need.

Let me show you an example. The MS 181 C-BE is equipped with a 16-inch bar. That’s plenty for cleaning up fallen limbs around your yard, as well as trees that may be down.

This is our MS 271 with a 20-inch bar, and this is a 20-inch tree. That’s pretty big, and most likely, when working around your farm or ranch, this unit with the 20-inch bar should handle the job.

Make sure you are realistic about choosing the right bar length coupled with the engine series that best fits your needs.

STIHL has many chainsaws to choose from, with a variety of power ranges, features, and bar lengths. Be sure to check out the STIHL hangtags — they’ll help you find the chainsaw that best fits your needs — or visit the STIHL USA website to learn more about STIHL products.

So remember, ask yourself these three questions:

How experienced am I with using a chainsaw?

What do I plan to cut with my chainsaw?

How big in diameter will the wood be that I plan on cutting?

Once you’ve answered these questions, you’ll be well on your way to choosing the right chainsaw for your needs.