Looking for a new chain saw.

Been using the stihl ms 250 for 17 years. Its been a great tool. About wore it out. Im looking for something with more power and 20" bar. Price range of $600-$800. I want to keep using stihl. So far a 261 c-m with 20" bar is on my radar.
Thanks

Husqvarna users here but the 261 cm looks like a good model..
One of our Husq has the ability to compensate itself in varying elevations and that is nice for us. We can haul it down to Texas for firewood without having to adjust the carb ourselves, the machine does it.
Longer bar would be my recc. but for many that length is fine.

Echo CS-590 Timberwolf.
I've had one for 10 years now, using anywhere from 18"-24" bars. Has never failed to do the job I've asked.

This is a great option and price for a split cased saw. While a little heavy, it has great power and starts easier than my stihl saws.

I have a MS251C with an 18” bar. It’s the EZ start model. Really nice saw. A lot lighter than my 029 Farm Boss. The saw you have picked out ought to do anything and everything mine does, and better.

No more Stihls for me. About 10 or so years ago I bought a new one. They had changed from screw on caps to snap in caps for oil and fuel.They wouldn’t stay closed. I sent it to Stihl but they said I must have damaged it. I found that it was a common problem. It was my third and last Stihl.

I now use Echo.

I had to fiddle with those new caps for a bit, but once I figured them out it was a snap. I like them.

Neither I nor the repair guy could figure mine out.

Stihl MS-362

Absolute HOSS!

Rated for a 24" bar and I have a 20" bar on mine. A new chain on it and it will scare you.

Very common on fire engines and fire trucks for cutting roofs open, as well.

The moving part of the cap has to be extended.

The cap is keyed with two large tabs and one small tab.

Get all that situated correctly and they work just fine.

Die hard echo fan here

Stihl 361

I’ve been running a 261 for several years now. It’s definitely a lot stronger than my previous 250, that I had. It’s also a loud screamer, I wear ear muffs when using it.

I have an echo with 20 inch bar and a polaun 18 inch that was given to me by a friend, this thing is at least 10 years old. both of those are hours away was presented a opportunity to purchase another saw
I looked again at stihl and husky I bought another poulan w 18 inch bar and have been using it to clear pines off a half acre felling limbing and bucking. It’s been a journey but 4 trees to go

All depends on what ya are doing w it.

We currently run over 30 saws daily of Stihl’s, Echo’s and Husky’s and I have to deal with all of them on a daily basis and in my humble opinion id say stick to a Stihl for one reason only and that’s parts availability. You can buy parts for them pretty much anywhere at any time and the other 2 brands are a PITA to deal with when it comes to parts. I currently have at least 15 saws in my shop now waiting on parts and only 2 of them are Stihls since those parts are normally available locally. Once the others wear out I won’t be buying them any longer.

I know most people don’t use saws like we do but the Echo’s chain adjusters are complete trash and the Husky’s are a full time job keeping them running while the Stihl’s can be beat to death, ran over and continue to run. My favorite is the MS 261 CM for what that’s worth unless your into big wood and then it’s the 462,

I use mine twice per year at most so it's not beat on. I bought an Echo because it's 94% of a Stihl at 70% of the cost. If I beat on mine like some others, I would have bought a Stihl and never considered a Husq.

Did a bunch of work this weekend with mine. It's on the heavy side, but MAN, the performance is no joke. I put a new blade on it yesterday and it went through some 10-12" pecan limbs like they weren't there, and a bunch of cedar as well.

chainsaws don't have blades. Bars and chains.

Lack of coffee, most likely, plus the cumulative effects of three long days on the fenceline.

thumper, what do you know about the 311 with 20" bar?

Outstanding saw, we’ve got at least a dozen of them running a 20” bar and outside of normal wear and tear id say they’re probably the most dependable saw we use. We’ve got saws up to an 880 and when it comes to taking down the biggest of the big trees my go to guys for these jobs prefer the 311 more times than not, it makes me super nervous at times but they do it all day every day and I let them decide on what they want to use.

This is from someone who commercially uses them so I would listen to him.

Yup! I think Ol Thumper’s opinion/experience on this subject is the best real world info I’ve seen.

Can't go wrong the MS 261. I have the non CM version as I wanted to be able to make adjustments myself and not have to worry about computer crap.

Awesome all around saw that can run anything from a 16" bar up to 20"+.

thanks for all the help guys. Santa brought me stihl 261 c-m for Christmas. Its a awesome saw.