This is the first Husqvarna vs. Stihl comparison video I have seen that actually compares comparable saws, usually it is one homeowner version against the other brand's pro saw. Thank you for an apples to apples comparison. I think you hit the nail on the head with your recommendation of dealer support. Either company makes good saws. That being said, I have a 455 Rancher that I bought for $50 at a Sheriff's sale. I am predisposed towards Husqvarna's anyway, Dad ran a 61 for for years.
One thing he did not mention is that the only place to buy most parts for the Sthil is at a dealer. With the Husky, parts are available from a number of different sources.
Lowes Home Depot ace manards Amazon etc. I got no discount or help from sthil dealer and I scored my 455 rancher on sale at Lowe’s with also military discount out the door with bar oil jug and pack of 2 stroke oil a gas jug and file and bar oil gun for 429.89 no joke and I’ve done zero maintenance on mine for 5 years now but will need a spark plug soon it keeps getting dirty
Been at Ace for nearly 5 years, and personally selling Stihl for 4 years. Unfortunately best I can tell you is it all depends who you get. You might get someone who cares and wants to help or you might get someone who doesn't give a shit. Stihl products are great, same as Husky. There's a ton of TH-cam videos comparing the two brands. Ultimately it comes down to you. Myself, personally, I'd go Stihl, but only cause I've been familiar with them the past several years. I know their machines like the back of my hand, know where to get parts, etc. Husky is probably just as good, I just prefer and know Stihl better
@@mattthepolarbear what are you mumbling about? If you are a stihl dealer you simply look up said part on their internal parts drawings and order it via them. If you need Husqvarna parts its exactly the same. Both manufacturers are dicks for making it that hard for the consumer. A brand like Makita has their technical drawings public to all, which seems like a blessing but customers still act of like you are a wizard for finding the right part.
As a self employed gardener I don't really use chainsaws that much but I went for the 455 Rancher. Mostly used for firewood but occasionally taking down the odd tree, it does everything I need with ease, so a great purchase for me. Very happy with it!
This comparison is thorough and, in my opinion, extremely well done. You touch on pretty much every aspect of both saws that might interest a customer without being overly technical. I use both husqvarna and stihl saws to collect firewood but I found your comparison here educational. Thank you taking the time.
We have been running Husqvarna on the farm for atleast 15yrs, probably longer. The dealer is a great family and every saw they have sold us has been great to own and get serviced or parts. They also sell the Stihl products and I've used them as well. Very comparable and reliable machines. I never thought the battle should have been Stihl vs Husqvarna. I've been in the woods with a lot of guys running the box store saws. Those saws and their owners need some serious help. They spend half the day working on them and the other half of the day loading the trailer while I get sore shoulders and back doing all the cutting. Proper and maintained tools are essential.
@jamesf4244 a dealer will have more models to pick from than the 3 a box store sells. My local dealer carries farm grade and pro grade saws. I have a farm grade saw and a professional grade saw. There is a big difference in quality, both are great saws but the prograde saw will last longer. Having a good dealer to buy parts is also really nice. The box store only carries the basics. The dealer carries parts like the recoil, clutch, handles, caps, etc.
Husq fan for life here! For bucking firewood in BC anyway. First saws i used were husqvarnas. My first saw i bought; 1974 pioneer p40 - great old saw! Heavy, but just takes some muscle to run it, seperates the men from the boys. I've bucked about 75k of firewood in the last 3 years. I used the stihl 291, 362, 462, and the 660 while employed at a mill and we were having to send in the saws all the time for servicing from overheating and worn out air filters not sealing right (saws were on their second/third year when i got to the mill). Bucking full time stihl would always overheat, and we actually burnt out the clutch on the 462. I myself own a new stihl ms250 (1 year old now) for camping and home, and some light bucking. and an old husqvarna 257(1996): the stihl feels like a toy. And the clutch and the chain brake in the outside rather than in body i find it to be a huge advantage for reliability, just slip the chain on the clutchside first. Anyone who think the stihl is easier are the type of people who eats ice cream cones instead of using a bowl and spoon because "it's easier" haha. Its not hard or a pain in the butt at all. Husqvarnas seem to be built to last; Compression release, adjustable oiler, higher quality plastic & material, (and air filter! I'd rathrr a metal pin or even a screw than plastic screw-on that wears out). Husqvarna 257 (57.9cc)comes in only a couple pounds heavier than the ms250 while being 12cc bigger, and roughly same body size! Stihls are made to be serviced. Only advantage is the marginal difference in weight in my opinion, for me reliabilty is much more important. Felling trees i do like to use my stihl, just because it is lighter and i usually have to hike to the tree. Stihl is capable enough, but does not seem to be built to work hard or for too long.
While an older video, I am sure many will see it later. My father was a timber cutter for nearly 10 years. During those years his father, brothers, and him all ran stihl chainsaws! Excellent reliable saws! He still uses them to this day 30+ years later! There were also those on the mountain that ran Husqvarnas! And the rivalry was real of which saw was superior and why! In the end though both brands rip and get the job done. The biggest factors though was the operators and how they maintained their saws and keeping them sharp. My father was a 3 star logger for his first few years and became a 5 star logger in later years with awards to prove it. Husqvarna operators were also 5 star loggers with awards to prove it! Find a saw that is comfortable to you and get proper instruction in how to be efficient and safe with your saw of choice!
Holy Toledo, Ohio! This may well be the perfect TH-cam product information vid. THANK YOU. I've been eyeballin' the 455 Rancher for some occasional firewood and road-clearing work. Not a professional, but a retired truck driver planning on some wilderness time. You, sir, are a credit to your business and profession. Thanks again.
Purchased my first chainsaw when I was 16. It’s a husqvarna 340. I love it and still have it to this day. Since then I’ve also owned a couple stihl chainsaws, but have sold them. Twenty years later, I prefer the Husqvarna and have 3 currently, a 340, a 372, and a 455 rancher. Both are high quality, durable saws, but I prefer the chain system on the husqvarna. If you treat them right, they’ll last a lifetime. However, I do love my stihl kombi.
You sir,are an excellent instructor! I run several 271's no problem . They make me money . My servicing dealer is top notch. I tell everyone if there is no service dept you can't give me the eqpt.
Thanks for the video! I learned a lot about the two. The amount of hardwood trees in my area is a major deciding factor. I can’t wait to go buy my farm boss!
I own 9 Stihl saws, a small Echo and an Echo pole saw. One of the Stihl is 25 years old and the small Echo is about that old. Looking forward to trying my first Husqvarna this year. A lot of it is like the Ford vs Chevy debate but I think dealer support is a big factor as well. Obviously I have worked on more Stihl than anything. They are all good saws. Thank you for the comparison, it was well done.
We used Stihl when I was in the Fire Service many years ago. Therefore, I am familiar with the saw and I like them. I purchased a homeowner version, the Wood Boss, and it has served me fairly good. I notice that saw dust can gather around the area where the oil cap is supposed to seal and it can't screw down properly, causing one to think that the threads are stripped. If you take a thin jig saw blade or something similar, and scape around the small area where sawdust gets trapped, the cap will go on tight and the seal works fine.
I went out on a hand crue with the BIA years ago and always wanted to go out as a signal resource sayor. What do you know about that? In already a Fire fighter 2.
As a structural firefighter with a truck company and talking with many brothers from other departments none of us have ever seen a husky on a truck or rescue. When life and property are on the line Stihl baby!
I bought 2 450 Huskies recently cause I got 2 like new saws for half the price. I really like them so far. I own 3 Stihl saws as well. Both brands seem to be Excellent. Looks like you covered everything, thanks for your excellent instruction 💯👍
I have owned a Husky Rancher 455 and a Stihl MS 210 C for two decades. Both great saws but different saws exactly as you have described. My buddy has a Farm Boss and I have a Husky Rancher 455. Its a flip of the coin, personal preference and dealer support. Personally I love the easy operation of the Stihl caps and mine have never leaked. It is easier installing a chain on the Stihl. The chain tensioning system on my Stihl MS 210 C also requires no tools which is really convenient. Great review. I can't think of anything you didn't cover.
Look at all the junk Stihl s on the wall You are a Stihl dealer I can see why you lie about the junk Stihl saws Put your junk agent's a real saw 288 XP HUSQVARNA 3)8 PITCH 72 BRING YOUR JUNK AND PUT IT AGAINST MY SAW
I am thinking of getting a stihl chainsaw because the timber is impossible to cut with a hatchet would one with a small chain be ideal what do you think
Hi Carl - it's Big Rodders in Ireland. I've just replaced my beloved Husky 365 with a Rancher 455 as due to my age I couldn't justify the extra cost of a new 565, plus the fact that that they now have autotune, which I detest. I bought a 555 with a 16inch bar & .335 chain five years ago and was very impressed with its very aggressive cutting ability and heneral agility when it fired up BUT it broke my heart either erratic starting, despite 2 trips to the shop and a new ignition module at $165. I pledged I will never buy another electronic carb saw. The Rancher 455 is listed here at $866US though I was lucky to get a deal at $733. You chaps across the pond don't realise how cheap you can buy equipment compared to us poor relatives this side of the pond!
I feel ya on the autotune design. I've got both stihl and husqvarna and my husqvarna 550xp just got its 2nd top end rebuild. It's a firecracker of a saw,but has always run hot. The piston I took out this time had blisters on it. I've never had that problem put of my stihls,even the mtronic ones. I'm sure it's not all of them,but that 550xp has left a sour taste in my mouth.
Husqvarna fan here, good memories with the family running these saws, never an issue. I have used Stihl trimmers though which I really like. Just got an echo which I'm returning. The old ones were great, now they have plastic handles and overall much cheaper build - never again. Awesome comparison! I know some people that swear by Stihl.
My dad and i have a Stihl MS 291 and a Stihl MS 180. Both are great chainsaws and my dad bought them both at are Stihl dealer called Centennial Lube in Grace Idaho. Same with our Stihl FS 56 RC trimmer and Toro Recycler lawn mowerower.
I went with the MS391, it does have the compression release and starts the third pull every time. I do think I should have spent the extra to go to the pro series but overall am happy with the saw.
Retired firefighter and we exclusively used Stihl and only Stihl for a reason. They are reliable and durable. Of course in the service we always made sure all of our equipment was impeccably maintained and that makes the difference as well. Using pre mixed fuel, changing air filters and spark plugs regularly and servicing the chains and bar timely. They are built to last forever.
You didn’t go into the adjustable oiler on the Husqvarna, I have a 450e and just started to learn using it, also do you have a website to place orders. Thank you
My new 271 Farm Boss burps on 2nd pull everytime on full choke and always starts on 1st pull on half choke every single time. So from a cold start it starts on 3rd pull everytime and after warmed up starts 1st pull every single time. I love the the Farm Boss and worth every penny I paid for it. Cuts great with little to no effort. Great choice in a new daw
Great review! I have a 545 mark 2 and a 455 rancher and love both of them! I would love to get a Stihl as well. Both companies have great saws and are #1 and #2 as far as chainsaws go. I liked the honest review. Both have strengths and weaknesses. I love seeing a Stihl dealer say good things about their competitor's products. It shows me they have faith in their own products as they should cuz Stihl has excellent products.
Late to the party but glad I watched this video. So I'm my 60's but I still get a lot done. I need a larger chainsaw And I really wanted the Husky. But I do agree with the statement on dealer support. So to that end I'll have to go with Stihl. What an amazing video. LOVED the breakdown for maintenance.
I believe the reason for an adjustable bar oil is for two reasons and it’s not to save on oil, but you can adjust the oil to help you depending on what type of wood you are cutting not to mention in cold-weather bar oil flow as good so you can increase The oil Flow in order not to burn up your bar
I think it comes down to "Buy the dealer". Find a good dealer with a good service department that is convenient to you, and buy the brand saw they sell. If both are available, then you can't go wrong.
WOW great video the only thing stopping me from getting the Stihl is that "start rope pull" that looks like a real pain in the shoulder way to start a chainsaw especially if your having problems with it starting.
Huskys just start better than sthil, my 455 usually fires first crank I don't ever use the decompression release, or the primer unless I've run outa gas. The decompression release is nice to have if you got shoulder problems, so is the primer if you've run it out of gas. Plus huskys Rev out higher than sthil.
great review , i run both husky and stihl ,it's like apples and oranges or ford and chevy, i find stihl's a little easier to work on , husky's seem to cut a little faster in general , out of the 7 saw i run .my fav are the stihl 044 mag and the 562 xp husky . Thanks again for the best chainsaw review on you tube
What an awesome shop. I love your videos. If you were local to me I’d buy everything I could from there. Like he’s said in other videos - you may have your brand bias, but what matters even more is what dealer do you have locally and are they good? The people and the support make all the difference.
Now that i have seen the comparison between the two, i think I would stay with stihl. I have a 170 which at the time I bought was okay but now I want the 271. I had another stihl about 12 years ago and I used it one time and sold it cause I retired but for the life of me, i can't remember the number of it. My 170 I've changed the caps out 3 times and the gas one leaks and sometimes I use pliers to tighten it. The other one had the flip caps which I thought were good thing.
Great review. Both will last a lifetime if properly maintained, which is easier to do with the Stihl even without a dealer nearby (mine’s only 10 minutes away so I’m lucky there). The big differences between these saws are the internals. The Stihl’s motor is better built and uses 2 piston rings to the husky’s one. Big dif? No but does provide for better compression over time and oil swipe. Also stihl has much better low end torque while husky has more top end so it will cut faster at speed but the stihl will power through on tough cuts better with less bogging down. You really can’t go wrong with either.
Do you have any statistics that back up your claim that Stihl has a better engine? In my experience is a small engine mechanic I would have to disagree. Also there are double ring Pistons available for Husqvarna chainsaws. Service on both steel and Husqvarna are almost identical in terms of difficulty. I can order OEM parts direct from the manufacturer for a Husqvarna at a much lower cost.
Just a personal experience, bought the husky and I’ve had trouble keeping it running from day 1. Followed starting instructions use husky fuel, husky bar oil, it burnt up the clutch after 8 hours of work had to get it fixed still doesn’t stay running.
i run husky and stihl all the time one thing ive noticed on my brand new 661 is the clutch cover and everything around it get hotter than hell during regular use and yes the bar has oil
I bought my Stihl Farm Boss 16 years ago and it's been very reliable. It still has the original spark plug. But I have changed the 20" bar a few times. My saw always requires more than 3 priming pulls. Although I only cut about 4-5 cords of firewood per year several professional loggers in my area use a Farm Boss daily for bucking out big softwoods like Doug Fir, Spruce and Redwoods. I mainly cut Alder, Pepperwood, White Fir, and Bigleaf Maple. About one in three people in my area use Huskies, which is their right as Americans I suppose. The rest use Stihls. I have a Husky lawn mower that I keep only because it has a Honda engine -- The rest of the mower is made by Husqvarna and it's not well-designed or well-made.
Very well done only one thing left out the inboard brake fills full of fine sawdust and cooks the plastic inter cover and hangs up the brake band trashing the clutch if it's stuck on the in position. Now it's way harder to change the brake and above most home owners abilities to change. Husqvarna you could just change the outlet cover that has the brake band built in but you have it off every time you change the chain so you tend to clean the brake band out simply blow it out with a air compressor then they normally on the Husqvarna they last the life of the unit.
Great video. Husqvarna has a dealer in my area so I go with that one. It is a pain in the back to get the pin on the right hole when adjusting the chain. Anyhow, there are both great saws.
Great review and I have both of these saws, but when I have to grab one for a quick cutting situation, my go to saw is my Echo 440. It comes with a five uear homeowners warranty without stipulations attached and I can buy replacement parts anywhere.
Aren’t echo saw’s supposed to be just as good as Stihl or husky? Nobody talks abt echo. Japan makes the highest quality cars, and motorcycles that are the most reliable. Does echo fit into that category? Seems like the only place around me to get one is the depot tho so service might b an issue I suppose
@@jimmylarge1148 I have all 3 brands. Echo is my most reliable. ALWAYS starts quick. Never needed repairs. And it happens to be my oldest saw. We used them in my fire department.
This is a fantastic video. No long-winded bullshit. Just a quick assessment of each chainsaw and its functionality for real consumers and a useful comparison with its chief competitor. Very nicely done. Any possibility of reviewing Stihl abd Husqvarna electric chainsaws?
That clutch, brake and tensioner system is a deal breaker. I had to put a chain on one the other day and I felt like throwing it over my shoulder. Stihl is a much better system especially when using it several times a day.
I've had my 455 for years huskys Rev out more than sthil. I was cutting a tree that fell over the road with my freind who has a sthil and a bystander said damn, your saw screams compared to that other guys saw.
Great comparison video! I appreciate that you go through both with no bias towards one or the other! I decided to go with Stihl because I have a dealer network that I trust and plus they had a discount going on when I bought my saw.
I sold stihl and husqvarna side by side for 30 years. Believe me one is just as good as the other. Stihl does make their own chain and it is the best chain in the industry. Husqvarna buys Oregon chain for their saws.. its good chain so no apologies needed. My personal favorite is Husqvarna. Mainly because husqvarna Has superior dealer relations. They take care of their dealers . Good people to work with. Sometimes Stihl failed to return phone calls.
I’ve got a 455 rancher and a 391 Stihl. I’ve had the 455 for 13 years now and ran the original plug for 10 of them. I like the husqvarna better than the Stihl but I haven’t gotten rid of the Stihl either so it’s not a bad saw at all. I run identical Stihl 20” chains on both saws and have a 441 Stihl running a 36” bar that I’ve ran for 8 years now. Both brands make good saws I lean more towards husky but I very much like the tractor dealer I’ve bought farm equipment and both stihls through. The local husky dealer near me is also great to work with. I’ve had to get the 441 warrantied once and that was handled well by the dealer. All in all both brands are great and really seem to come down to preference
I just purchased a husqvarna 455 it’s an amazing saw, way better than the saw I had before which was a echo I’m not sure what the number was but i had a lot of problems with it, so now I should be set for awhile, the husqvarna dealer is 20 minutes from my house.
used saws for 37yrs and more.full on and I've ended up using huskys.matter of opinion.once stink started using electric assisted start I gave up on them.can fix my husky in the woods with basic tools.the stihls,I gotta track back and dig specialist tools out of the van.thanks for the info my friend but I find husky easier to fix/maintain with tools on my harness and customer support has looked after me quicker and better.understand your talking about part time(non prof saws too.I'll stick with the husky anyday. stay safe and lucky.maddog.full time tree worker.West cork.eirw
Just bought a ms271 a few months ago, a buddy has a 455, after using both of them they perform very similarly, aside from the primer on the husky im partial to the stihl
@@dentondunn4346 They both start within 3 or 4 pulls,and cut time is pretty well even. I've always disliked husqvarna's outboard clutch,but otherwise they're nice saws.
The Makita 5600F is similar to the ms271/455Rancher and had had captured bar nuts and duel spikes and in board clutch and the chain tensioner is on the saw like the Stihl for the same price range
I've used my 455 Rancher for several years mainly for firewood with zero issues. The Stihl is a great choice as well. It really comes down to maintaining them.keep them serviceable and you shouldn't have problems
Thanks for the review! My Stihl 180 failed because the control lever on the choke mechanism failed. It was a crazy way to lose a saw, but it couldn't be repaired for a reasonable amount of money, totaling the unit. This makes me want to abandon Stihl on principle, but there's less nonsense with operation as compared to the Husky. I contemplating the 460 and the 311.
Fantastic review my friend, best one I've seen yet, and funny enough i am after a new saw, at that range, but wasn't sure if i should buy husky or sthil,,,, which I've always bought 💪😀🤘🇬🇧now I'm thing still to stick with sthil ms271 looks good 😀👌stay safe and keep the excellent work up🇬🇧🇬🇧from England ❤️
I just purchased a 450 on black friday came with the case. My 18 year old husky55 is starting to annoy me , probably easy fixes but I just don't have time. I work and come home I need a running saw. This new saw is light but feels cheap.
The MS271 you can swap the clutch drum and sprocket to run a 3/8 pitch .375 .050 gauge chain in either semi chisel or full chisel chain doing that your able to run a 16 inch to 24 inch bar
good comparison. I noticed many design items used in Craftsman & Poulon saws are direct from Husqvarna, but Husqvarna is using better materials in things like the chain cover.. where the knock-offs are virtually unreinforced plastic. only able to see this due to your disassembly of both units side by side. & my experience with those other saws.. which in the later name, never ends well for me.
Purchased my Stihl MS271 yesterday, 2 year warranty off the shelf, extended to 4 years after my 6pk purchase of oil. Maybe this was recently changed. Purchased at Ace Hardware. Love this saw, cuts with ease!
For your sake I hope your local hardware store found a way to get chainsaws a 4 year warranty. My thought is they are unfortunately mistaken. Here is a link to Stihl’s warranty policy. m.stihlusa.com/information/warranty-service-info/limited-warranty/ Either way it’s a great saw. And any failure past 2 years is generally self inflicted. Not a manufacturer defect.
Just bought a 271 Farm boss last week and after purchasing the 6pack of 2 stroke oil it extended my warranty from 1 years to 2 years thought Huskys warranty was 2 years and 4 years after purchasing the 6 pack of 2 stroke oil.
The Echo 590 Timber Wolf at the same price point seems to be the winner overall if you look up the reviews. Larger engine means more weight is the only downfall.
Great Video dude!! I’ve always ran STIHL but I’m currently looking at Husqy. Prob 455 for around the property so my kids and dad will have a manageable saw but I’d like to pick up a 372xp for myself. I feel if you’re a saw man little things like gas cap and stuff aren’t really a concern. Maybe for John and Jane homeowner but for serious work I want Power and in my opinion you get more power for the money with Husq! Not that STIHL hasn’t and continues to make some great saws. I have a AV066 and an MS250 and have no complaints but now that I’m getting into serious work I talked to my cousin and when he had his company it was all Husqy. He said listen Everett do me a favor just try a husky and if you like it I’ll buy you the 455. So of course I couldn’t turn that down. Side not though any fans of the vintage McCulloch 125C?
One of the best comparisons I've seen between both great saws. I recently owned each, but took the Husky back. The Husky had a problem I've never had with my Stihl. I was cutting on a felled large red oak on a funky hill. Difficult to not pinch the bar sometimes due to gravity. Three times the Husky bar when pinched, bent in the bar grooves and locked the chain. Had to take off the chain and open the grooves up with a screwdriver. Only had half the tree done and exchanged for a Stihl MS271. The bar still got pinched a few times, but never locked-up once. To me, Stihl wins the bar strength contest hands down.
I like both---- ive got the husky 445.. that's my confidence saw. I know it will start and stay running everytime..... my stihl is good too cuts faster its a 271.. but the husky 445 is so reliable.. it will always start even in -40 temps
Bought a Husqvarna Rancher two days ago. Threw the chain in 30 minutes into cutting firewood no thicker than 12 inches. Huge pain in the ass to get everything lined up and tensioned again. Then it through the chain 6 more times. Returning tomorrow for a refund and I'm going to buy the Farm Boss. That whole external brake and tensioner setup is absolute shit.
I have a husky 450 rancher 20 inch and I love it. It has a ton of power and torque. And the fuel economy is great. It cruzes through big wood and stumps like it's nothin.
Thanks for your extremely thorough and helpful comparison. Seriously…Ive been doing some intense research for my first real chainsaw investment for almost a year and I don’t know how I ve missed you. You covered everything I needed to know! Internal clutch/brake over external. (Husky Men?) doesn’t the external clutch get all gunked up with bar oil and sawdust? Having a larger surface area locking air filter instead of a tool needing, tiny one is a no brainer...no wonder they’re concerned about the clutch causing heat. Big nuts. They’re more important than you’d think the older you get. And the most important mitigating factor that not a single soul on the internet has ever thought to tell me, if Im cutting hardwood, its gotta be the Stihl. Which Stihl (or other brand) would you recommend for felling and bucking, that also has enough hp and versatiity of bar size to use with a chainsaw mill? MS391 comes to mind. Just thought I’d pick your brain.
Sorry for the delayed response. If you are thinking about a mill there is a lot to consider. How large of slabs are you thinking/dreaming of? Remember once you get into it you will always want to get bigger :) I would recommend a 70cc at minimum for a mill. Check out the MS462 its weight vs the 391 it weight a bit less and has 1.6 more HP. You will be much happier milling with that saw.
Which saw is more recommended because I bought the 271 Farm Boss but also considered purchasing the 455 Rancher but even though the Rancher is supposed to be a more efficient saw for cutting I preferred the the Sthil myself due to the name and the advice giving to me by local people that uses both saws.
Used to cut 100 facordd a year using a stihl farmboss and a husqvarna both. The husky was smaller but would scream thru logs and was lighter. But I used that stihl for over 30 years. Have to replace it today. The Husqvarna is 100 dollars more and a little bit heavier so I'm going to stay with stihl.
I have 2 Husqvarna 345 saws. They are pretty good saws. Both are over 10 years old and still run fine. I have run a stihl saw that my friend owns as well. It is a great saw and is also over 10 years old. For someone like me who only uses a saw a few times per year I think either one is a good choice. My uncle was a logger who ran saws every day though and he preferred a stihl. The only stihl product I've ever owned personally was a weedeater. I think it was an fs90r? It was the best weedeater I've ever used. Unfortunately it was stolen several years ago so I've been using my dad's echo (also over 10 years old) but I will be buying another stihl weedeater the next time I need to buy one
I have only ever used Stihl to collect firewood here on the farm. I am constantly being told I need accelerator pumps and now have been told my cylinder is scraped in my wife's ms 171.(Uses it for delimbing While I cut with the ms 291). I have found that my ms291 has been very hard to start lately and wont stay running after it warms up unless I am constantly on the throttle. I get yearly services and maintenance done. I have been seriously looking into a 455 Rancher. But after seeing your video, I might have to jump up to the 460 to be comparable in power with my ms 291. Glad I watched your video. I never knew about the chain/brake/tensioner differences before. Very nicely done. Thank you.
If you get a comparable husky to sthil the husky revs much higher. Sthils are good down low, but up high a husky will cut faster and sounds meaner. But they are both good saws. Once you use em enough the writing on the bar will wear off anyway.
This is the first Husqvarna vs. Stihl comparison video I have seen that actually compares comparable saws, usually it is one homeowner version against the other brand's pro saw. Thank you for an apples to apples comparison. I think you hit the nail on the head with your recommendation of dealer support. Either company makes good saws. That being said, I have a 455 Rancher that I bought for $50 at a Sheriff's sale. I am predisposed towards Husqvarna's anyway, Dad ran a 61 for for years.
One thing he did not mention is that the only place to buy most parts for the Sthil is at a dealer. With the Husky, parts are available from a number of different sources.
Lowes Home Depot ace manards Amazon etc.
I got no discount or help from sthil dealer and I scored my 455 rancher on sale at Lowe’s with also military discount out the door with bar oil jug and pack of 2 stroke oil a gas jug and file and bar oil gun for 429.89 no joke and I’ve done zero maintenance on mine for 5 years now but will need a spark plug soon it keeps getting dirty
There are Sthil dealers all over. Sthil out performs all others.
Been at Ace for nearly 5 years, and personally selling Stihl for 4 years. Unfortunately best I can tell you is it all depends who you get. You might get someone who cares and wants to help or you might get someone who doesn't give a shit. Stihl products are great, same as Husky. There's a ton of TH-cam videos comparing the two brands. Ultimately it comes down to you. Myself, personally, I'd go Stihl, but only cause I've been familiar with them the past several years. I know their machines like the back of my hand, know where to get parts, etc. Husky is probably just as good, I just prefer and know Stihl better
@@mattthepolarbear what are you mumbling about? If you are a stihl dealer you simply look up said part on their internal parts drawings and order it via them. If you need Husqvarna parts its exactly the same. Both manufacturers are dicks for making it that hard for the consumer. A brand like Makita has their technical drawings public to all, which seems like a blessing but customers still act of like you are a wizard for finding the right part.
Except for a chain and maybe the sword, which store has other parts for your exact Husqvarna model laying in store?
As a self employed gardener I don't really use chainsaws that much but I went for the 455 Rancher. Mostly used for firewood but occasionally taking down the odd tree, it does everything I need with ease, so a great purchase for me. Very happy with it!
Great size for your applications.
This comparison is thorough and, in my opinion, extremely well done. You touch on pretty much every aspect of both saws that might interest a customer without being overly technical. I use both husqvarna and stihl saws to collect firewood but I found your comparison here educational. Thank you taking the time.
Thanks Bill we appreciate your support and are glad we hit the high points.
We have been running Husqvarna on the farm for atleast 15yrs, probably longer. The dealer is a great family and every saw they have sold us has been great to own and get serviced or parts. They also sell the Stihl products and I've used them as well. Very comparable and reliable machines. I never thought the battle should have been Stihl vs Husqvarna. I've been in the woods with a lot of guys running the box store saws. Those saws and their owners need some serious help. They spend half the day working on them and the other half of the day loading the trailer while I get sore shoulders and back doing all the cutting. Proper and maintained tools are essential.
There is no difference in a box store 455 Rancher or a 455 Rancher from a dealer
@jamesf4244 a dealer will have more models to pick from than the 3 a box store sells. My local dealer carries farm grade and pro grade saws. I have a farm grade saw and a professional grade saw. There is a big difference in quality, both are great saws but the prograde saw will last longer. Having a good dealer to buy parts is also really nice. The box store only carries the basics. The dealer carries parts like the recoil, clutch, handles, caps, etc.
Husq fan for life here! For bucking firewood in BC anyway. First saws i used were husqvarnas. My first saw i bought; 1974 pioneer p40 - great old saw! Heavy, but just takes some muscle to run it, seperates the men from the boys.
I've bucked about 75k of firewood in the last 3 years. I used the stihl 291, 362, 462, and the 660 while employed at a mill and we were having to send in the saws all the time for servicing from overheating and worn out air filters not sealing right (saws were on their second/third year when i got to the mill). Bucking full time stihl would always overheat, and we actually burnt out the clutch on the 462.
I myself own a new stihl ms250 (1 year old now) for camping and home, and some light bucking. and an old husqvarna 257(1996): the stihl feels like a toy. And the clutch and the chain brake in the outside rather than in body i find it to be a huge advantage for reliability, just slip the chain on the clutchside first. Anyone who think the stihl is easier are the type of people who eats ice cream cones instead of using a bowl and spoon because "it's easier" haha. Its not hard or a pain in the butt at all. Husqvarnas seem to be built to last; Compression release, adjustable oiler, higher quality plastic & material, (and air filter! I'd rathrr a metal pin or even a screw than plastic screw-on that wears out). Husqvarna 257 (57.9cc)comes in only a couple pounds heavier than the ms250 while being 12cc bigger, and roughly same body size!
Stihls are made to be serviced. Only advantage is the marginal difference in weight in my opinion, for me reliabilty is much more important. Felling trees i do like to use my stihl, just because it is lighter and i usually have to hike to the tree. Stihl is capable enough, but does not seem to be built to work hard or for too long.
Good on you! If it’s right for you go Husqvarna!
While an older video, I am sure many will see it later. My father was a timber cutter for nearly 10 years. During those years his father, brothers, and him all ran stihl chainsaws! Excellent reliable saws! He still uses them to this day 30+ years later! There were also those on the mountain that ran Husqvarnas! And the rivalry was real of which saw was superior and why! In the end though both brands rip and get the job done. The biggest factors though was the operators and how they maintained their saws and keeping them sharp. My father was a 3 star logger for his first few years and became a 5 star logger in later years with awards to prove it. Husqvarna operators were also 5 star loggers with awards to prove it! Find a saw that is comfortable to you and get proper instruction in how to be efficient and safe with your saw of choice!
Holy Toledo, Ohio! This may well be the perfect TH-cam product information vid. THANK YOU. I've been eyeballin' the 455 Rancher for some occasional firewood and road-clearing work. Not a professional, but a retired truck driver planning on some wilderness time. You, sir, are a credit to your business and profession. Thanks again.
Purchased my first chainsaw when I was 16. It’s a husqvarna 340. I love it and still have it to this day. Since then I’ve also owned a couple stihl chainsaws, but have sold them. Twenty years later, I prefer the Husqvarna and have 3 currently, a 340, a 372, and a 455 rancher. Both are high quality, durable saws, but I prefer the chain system on the husqvarna. If you treat them right, they’ll last a lifetime. However, I do love my stihl kombi.
You sir,are an excellent instructor! I run several 271's no problem . They make me money . My servicing dealer is top notch. I tell everyone if there is no service dept you can't give me the eqpt.
That's a great comparison video between the 2 saws. Best comparison I've seen yet
I have never had or used a Stihl but I bought a Husqvarna 55 in 1998 and love it. Never a problem.
Great saw
I got a 45 and hate it. Breaks down every time I use it.
I prefer the 455 Husqvarna. I use mine on ranch and northern woods of Saskatchewan. Very good saw.
I have the ms 271 and really like it. I now want the husky 572 xp but don't have a need for it, I just want it. I love chainsaws.
Thanks for the video! I learned a lot about the two. The amount of hardwood trees in my area is a major deciding factor. I can’t wait to go buy my farm boss!
I own 9 Stihl saws, a small Echo and an Echo pole saw. One of the Stihl is 25 years old and the small Echo is about that old. Looking forward to trying my first Husqvarna this year. A lot of it is like the Ford vs Chevy debate but I think dealer support is a big factor as well. Obviously I have worked on more Stihl than anything. They are all good saws. Thank you for the comparison, it was well done.
I bought the Husky because the Husqvarna dealer is less than a mile from my house. Thanks for making me feel better about that reason!
We used Stihl when I was in the Fire Service many years ago. Therefore, I am familiar with the saw and I like them. I purchased a homeowner version, the Wood Boss, and it has served me fairly good. I notice that saw dust can gather around the area where the oil cap is supposed to seal and it can't screw down properly, causing one to think that the threads are stripped. If you take a thin jig saw blade or something similar, and scape around the small area where sawdust gets trapped, the cap will go on tight and the seal works fine.
I went out on a hand crue with the BIA years ago and always wanted to go out as a signal resource sayor. What do you know about that? In already a Fire fighter 2.
@@Patrick-uu5xg Don't know anything about it.
As a structural firefighter with a truck company and talking with many brothers from other departments none of us have ever seen a husky on a truck or rescue. When life and property are on the line Stihl baby!
@@Patrick-uu5xg I'm a structural guy but my buddy's in Montana that only fight wildland some not all prefer husky
I bought 2 450 Huskies recently cause I got 2 like new saws for half the price. I really like them so far. I own 3 Stihl saws as well. Both brands seem to be Excellent. Looks like you covered everything, thanks for your excellent instruction 💯👍
I have owned a Husky Rancher 455 and a Stihl MS 210 C for two decades. Both great saws but different saws exactly as you have described. My buddy has a Farm Boss and I have a Husky Rancher 455. Its a flip of the coin, personal preference and dealer support.
Personally I love the easy operation of the Stihl caps and mine have never leaked. It is easier installing a chain on the Stihl. The chain tensioning system on my Stihl MS 210 C also requires no tools which is really convenient.
Great review. I can't think of anything you didn't cover.
I don't like junk Stihl
Look at all the junk Stihl s on the wall
You are a Stihl dealer
I can see why you lie about the junk Stihl saws
Put your junk agent's a real saw
288 XP HUSQVARNA 3)8 PITCH 72
BRING YOUR JUNK AND PUT IT AGAINST MY SAW
I am out of here
I am thinking of getting a stihl chainsaw because the timber is impossible to cut with a hatchet would one with a small chain be ideal what do you think
Hi Carl - it's Big Rodders in Ireland. I've just replaced my beloved Husky 365 with a Rancher 455 as due to my age I couldn't justify the extra cost of a new 565, plus the fact that that they now have autotune, which I detest. I bought a 555 with a 16inch bar & .335 chain five years ago and was very impressed with its very aggressive cutting ability and heneral agility when it fired up BUT it broke my heart either erratic starting, despite 2 trips to the shop and a new ignition module at $165. I pledged I will never buy another electronic carb saw. The Rancher 455 is listed here at $866US though I was lucky to get a deal at $733. You chaps across the pond don't realise how cheap you can buy equipment compared to us poor relatives this side of the pond!
We won’t complain about our prices. 😉
I feel ya on the autotune design. I've got both stihl and husqvarna and my husqvarna 550xp just got its 2nd top end rebuild. It's a firecracker of a saw,but has always run hot. The piston I took out this time had blisters on it. I've never had that problem put of my stihls,even the mtronic ones. I'm sure it's not all of them,but that 550xp has left a sour taste in my mouth.
Husqvarna fan here, good memories with the family running these saws, never an issue. I have used Stihl trimmers though which I really like. Just got an echo which I'm returning. The old ones were great, now they have plastic handles and overall much cheaper build - never again. Awesome comparison! I know some people that swear by Stihl.
Both are great units
I have a husqvarna 455 rancher and I absolutely love it
My dad and i have a Stihl MS 291 and a Stihl MS 180. Both are great chainsaws and my dad bought them both at are Stihl dealer called Centennial Lube in Grace Idaho. Same with our Stihl FS 56 RC trimmer and Toro Recycler lawn mowerower.
I went with the MS391, it does have the compression release and starts the third pull every time. I do think I should have spent the extra to go to the pro series but overall am happy with the saw.
Good points. Still have my 25 year old husky that just simply works
Retired firefighter and we exclusively used Stihl and only Stihl for a reason. They are reliable and durable. Of course in the service we always made sure all of our equipment was impeccably maintained and that makes the difference as well. Using pre mixed fuel, changing air filters and spark plugs regularly and servicing the chains and bar timely. They are built to last forever.
Just bought the 460 and I own a 3 Sthils, MS260, MS271, and MS180C. Love the Husky! I do also.have a 136 Husky that out performs the MS180c.
Good content, thanks for the side by side breakdown
You didn’t go into the adjustable oiler on the Husqvarna, I have a 450e and just started to learn using it, also do you have a website to place orders. Thank you
My new 271 Farm Boss burps on 2nd pull everytime on full choke and always starts on 1st pull on half choke every single time. So from a cold start it starts on 3rd pull everytime and after warmed up starts 1st pull every single time. I love the the Farm Boss and worth every penny I paid for it. Cuts great with little to no effort. Great choice in a new daw
You’ve got that thing figured out. Enjoy that awesome chainsaw.
Great review! I have a 545 mark 2 and a 455 rancher and love both of them! I would love to get a Stihl as well. Both companies have great saws and are #1 and #2 as far as chainsaws go. I liked the honest review. Both have strengths and weaknesses. I love seeing a Stihl dealer say good things about their competitor's products. It shows me they have faith in their own products as they should cuz Stihl has excellent products.
That 545 is a sweet saw!
Late to the party but glad I watched this video. So I'm my 60's but I still get a lot done. I need a larger chainsaw And I really wanted the Husky. But I do agree with the statement on dealer support. So to that end I'll have to go with Stihl.
What an amazing video. LOVED the breakdown for maintenance.
I believe the reason for an adjustable bar oil is for two reasons and it’s not to save on oil, but you can adjust the oil to help you depending on what type of wood you are cutting not to mention in cold-weather bar oil flow as good so you can increase The oil Flow in order not to burn up your bar
This is an extremely good presentation.
I learned a lot. Have only owned Husqvarna and Echo but there are some good things I didn't know about with the Stihl.
Forget to unlock the chain break and what saw are we picking?🤔
Why is it difficult to start a warm saw after refueling a new MS 261?
I think it comes down to "Buy the dealer". Find a good dealer with a good service department that is convenient to you, and buy the brand saw they sell. If both are available, then you can't go wrong.
WOW great video the only thing stopping me from getting the Stihl is that "start rope pull" that looks like a real pain in the shoulder way to start a chainsaw especially if your having problems with it starting.
Huskys just start better than sthil, my 455 usually fires first crank I don't ever use the decompression release, or the primer unless I've run outa gas. The decompression release is nice to have if you got shoulder problems, so is the primer if you've run it out of gas. Plus huskys Rev out higher than sthil.
great review , i run both husky and stihl ,it's like apples and oranges or ford and chevy, i find
stihl's a little easier to work on , husky's seem to cut a little faster in general , out of the 7 saw i run .my fav are the stihl 044 mag and the 562 xp husky . Thanks again for the best chainsaw review on you tube
Thank you for the feedback
Do you have a solution for ,ms 210 leaks chain oil all into case .
What an awesome shop. I love your videos. If you were local to me I’d buy everything I could from there. Like he’s said in other videos - you may have your brand bias, but what matters even more is what dealer do you have locally and are they good? The people and the support make all the difference.
Now that i have seen the comparison between the two, i think I would stay with stihl. I have a 170 which at the time I bought was okay but now I want the 271. I had another stihl about 12 years ago and I used it one time and sold it cause I retired but for the life of me, i can't remember the number of it. My 170 I've changed the caps out 3 times and the gas one leaks and sometimes I use pliers to tighten it. The other one had the flip caps which I thought were good thing.
Great review. Both will last a lifetime if properly maintained, which is easier to do with the Stihl even without a dealer nearby (mine’s only 10 minutes away so I’m lucky there). The big differences between these saws are the internals. The Stihl’s motor is better built and uses 2 piston rings to the husky’s one. Big dif? No but does provide for better compression over time and oil swipe. Also stihl has much better low end torque while husky has more top end so it will cut faster at speed but the stihl will power through on tough cuts better with less bogging down. You really can’t go wrong with either.
Good point
Do you have any statistics that back up your claim that Stihl has a better engine? In my experience is a small engine mechanic I would have to disagree. Also there are double ring Pistons available for Husqvarna chainsaws. Service on both steel and Husqvarna are almost identical in terms of difficulty. I can order OEM parts direct from the manufacturer for a Husqvarna at a much lower cost.
Just a personal experience, bought the husky and I’ve had trouble keeping it running from day 1. Followed starting instructions use husky fuel, husky bar oil, it burnt up the clutch after 8 hours of work had to get it fixed still doesn’t stay running.
One of the best comparison videos ive seen thus far! Great points!
i run husky and stihl all the time one thing ive noticed on my brand new 661 is the clutch cover and everything around it get hotter than hell during regular use and yes the bar has oil
I bought my Stihl Farm Boss 16 years ago and it's been very reliable. It still has the original spark plug. But I have changed the 20" bar a few times. My saw always requires more than 3 priming pulls. Although I only cut about 4-5 cords of firewood per year several professional loggers in my area use a Farm Boss daily for bucking out big softwoods like Doug Fir, Spruce and Redwoods. I mainly cut Alder, Pepperwood, White Fir, and Bigleaf Maple. About one in three people in my area use Huskies, which is their right as Americans I suppose. The rest use Stihls. I have a Husky lawn mower that I keep only because it has a Honda engine -- The rest of the mower is made by Husqvarna and it's not well-designed or well-made.
Good comparison, I love my Stihl MS 311, which has a compression valve 👍💪
Where does the weight difference come from (cylinder wall)?
Very well done only one thing left out the inboard brake fills full of fine sawdust and cooks the plastic inter cover and hangs up the brake band trashing the clutch if it's stuck on the in position. Now it's way harder to change the brake and above most home owners abilities to change. Husqvarna you could just change the outlet cover that has the brake band built in but you have it off every time you change the chain so you tend to clean the brake band out simply blow it out with a air compressor then they normally on the Husqvarna they last the life of the unit.
Great video. Husqvarna has a dealer in my area so I go with that one. It is a pain in the back to get the pin on the right hole when adjusting the chain. Anyhow, there are both great saws.
Practice makes perfect. You will become a pro at installing the bar and chain. 😉
Enjoy the saw
Great review and I have both of these saws, but when I have to grab one for a quick cutting situation, my go to saw is my Echo 440. It comes with a five uear homeowners warranty without stipulations attached and I can buy replacement parts anywhere.
Aren’t echo saw’s supposed to be just as good as Stihl or husky? Nobody talks abt echo. Japan makes the highest quality cars, and motorcycles that are the most reliable. Does echo fit into that category? Seems like the only place around me to get one is the depot tho so service might b an issue I suppose
@@jimmylarge1148 I have all 3 brands. Echo is my most reliable. ALWAYS starts quick. Never needed repairs. And it happens to be my oldest saw. We used them in my fire department.
This is a fantastic video. No long-winded bullshit. Just a quick assessment of each chainsaw and its functionality for real consumers and a useful comparison with its chief competitor. Very nicely done.
Any possibility of reviewing Stihl abd Husqvarna electric chainsaws?
Great video, still don't know which 1 to buy
That clutch, brake and tensioner system is a deal breaker. I had to put a chain on one the other day and I felt like throwing it over my shoulder. Stihl is a much better system especially when using it several times a day.
I love my 455 rancher Husqvarna
What is your favorite thing about it.
I've had my 455 for years huskys Rev out more than sthil. I was cutting a tree that fell over the road with my freind who has a sthil and a bystander said damn, your saw screams compared to that other guys saw.
Great comparison video! I appreciate that you go through both with no bias towards one or the other!
I decided to go with Stihl because I have a dealer network that I trust and plus they had a discount going on when I bought my saw.
Thanks for the feedback enjoy your Stihl
Thanks for the feedback
I sold stihl and husqvarna side by side for 30 years. Believe me one is just as good as the other. Stihl does make their own chain and it is the best chain in the industry. Husqvarna buys Oregon chain for their saws.. its good chain so no apologies needed.
My personal favorite is Husqvarna. Mainly because husqvarna
Has superior dealer relations. They take care of their dealers . Good people to work with.
Sometimes Stihl failed to return phone calls.
I’ve got a 455 rancher and a 391 Stihl. I’ve had the 455 for 13 years now and ran the original plug for 10 of them. I like the husqvarna better than the Stihl but I haven’t gotten rid of the Stihl either so it’s not a bad saw at all. I run identical Stihl 20” chains on both saws and have a 441 Stihl running a 36” bar that I’ve ran for 8 years now. Both brands make good saws I lean more towards husky but I very much like the tractor dealer I’ve bought farm equipment and both stihls through. The local husky dealer near me is also great to work with. I’ve had to get the 441 warrantied once and that was handled well by the dealer. All in all both brands are great and really seem to come down to preference
Have had my ms290 for 20 years, it’s been bulletproof
Just today I added a 455 Rancher to my collection. Bigger than my others which are Poulan's 5020 & 3314 and Stihl MS 170 and a Husqvarna 235.
I just purchased a husqvarna 455 it’s an amazing saw, way better than the saw I had before which was a echo I’m not sure what the number was but i had a lot of problems with it, so now I should be set for awhile, the husqvarna dealer is 20 minutes from my house.
used saws for 37yrs and more.full on and I've ended up using huskys.matter of opinion.once stink started using electric assisted start I gave up on them.can fix my husky in the woods with basic tools.the stihls,I gotta track back and dig specialist tools out of the van.thanks for the info my friend but I find husky easier to fix/maintain with tools on my harness and customer support has looked after me quicker and better.understand your talking about part time(non prof saws too.I'll stick with the husky anyday. stay safe and lucky.maddog.full time tree worker.West cork.eirw
Just bought a ms271 a few months ago, a buddy has a 455, after using both of them they perform very similarly, aside from the primer on the husky im partial to the stihl
Which one cuts faster and starts better? Say you're partial to the Stihl?
@@dentondunn4346 They both start within 3 or 4 pulls,and cut time is pretty well even. I've always disliked husqvarna's outboard clutch,but otherwise they're nice saws.
The Makita 5600F is similar to the ms271/455Rancher and had had captured bar nuts and duel spikes and in board clutch and the chain tensioner is on the saw like the Stihl for the same price range
Stihl is a good saw, but my husband prefers huskys for the top end torque and ease of starting. Plus huskys sound better.
I have both saws. I also have a Stihl 29. Both Stihls alway take 10 to 12 pulls when they are cold. The 455 only takes two pulls.
I've used my 455 Rancher for several years mainly for firewood with zero issues. The Stihl is a great choice as well. It really comes down to maintaining them.keep them serviceable and you shouldn't have problems
Thanks for the review! My Stihl 180 failed because the control lever on the choke mechanism failed. It was a crazy way to lose a saw, but it couldn't be repaired for a reasonable amount of money, totaling the unit. This makes me want to abandon Stihl on principle, but there's less nonsense with operation as compared to the Husky. I contemplating the 460 and the 311.
I have a 180 n 251 they serve me well! U must've done something wrong with the 180 I've got no problems with mine n work it hard as well
What nonsense are you referring to when operating a Husqvarna? They're simpler and easier to use than any power saw I've ever used.
MS 271 fan here. Been using the farm boss for years and no issues
I've also herd you need a special tool to remove the husqvarna clutch
I like Stihl
Fantastic review my friend, best one I've seen yet, and funny enough i am after a new saw, at that range, but wasn't sure if i should buy husky or sthil,,,, which I've always bought 💪😀🤘🇬🇧now I'm thing still to stick with sthil ms271 looks good 😀👌stay safe and keep the excellent work up🇬🇧🇬🇧from England ❤️
I just purchased a 450 on black friday came with the case. My 18 year old husky55 is starting to annoy me , probably easy fixes but I just don't have time. I work and come home I need a running saw. This new saw is light but feels cheap.
So the huskys now have flip caps as well.
The MS271 you can swap the clutch drum and sprocket to run a 3/8 pitch .375 .050 gauge chain in either semi chisel or full chisel chain doing that your able to run a 16 inch to 24 inch bar
good comparison. I noticed many design items used in Craftsman & Poulon saws are direct from Husqvarna, but Husqvarna is using better materials in things like the chain cover.. where the knock-offs are virtually unreinforced plastic.
only able to see this due to your disassembly of both units side by side. & my experience with those other saws.. which in the later name, never ends well for me.
Purchased my Stihl MS271 yesterday, 2 year warranty off the shelf, extended to 4 years after my 6pk purchase of oil. Maybe this was recently changed. Purchased at Ace Hardware. Love this saw, cuts with ease!
For your sake I hope your local hardware store found a way to get chainsaws a 4 year warranty. My thought is they are unfortunately mistaken. Here is a link to Stihl’s warranty policy.
m.stihlusa.com/information/warranty-service-info/limited-warranty/
Either way it’s a great saw. And any failure past 2 years is generally self inflicted. Not a manufacturer defect.
Just bought a 271 Farm boss last week and after purchasing the 6pack of 2 stroke oil it extended my warranty from 1 years to 2 years thought Huskys warranty was 2 years and 4 years after purchasing the 6 pack of 2 stroke oil.
@@dentondunn4346 you are correct.
1 year warranty. 2 years if one buys the Stihl Ultra 6pack.
The Echo 590 Timber Wolf at the same price point seems to be the winner overall if you look up the reviews. Larger engine means more weight is the only downfall.
I like the husqvarna because of the thicker chain and gas bulb. The other one not so much. My favorite is my McCulloch I had it since 1984
The Echo 590 is a better saw than those 2 saws, and is cheaper. Head to head it whips those 2 saws.
Great Video dude!! I’ve always ran STIHL but I’m currently looking at Husqy. Prob 455 for around the property so my kids and dad will have a manageable saw but I’d like to pick up a 372xp for myself. I feel if you’re a saw man little things like gas cap and stuff aren’t really a concern. Maybe for John and Jane homeowner but for serious work I want Power and in my opinion you get more power for the money with Husq! Not that STIHL hasn’t and continues to make some great saws. I have a AV066 and an MS250 and have no complaints but now that I’m getting into serious work I talked to my cousin and when he had his company it was all Husqy. He said listen Everett do me a favor just try a husky and if you like it I’ll buy you the 455. So of course I couldn’t turn that down. Side not though any fans of the vintage McCulloch 125C?
One of the best comparisons I've seen between both great saws. I recently owned each, but took the Husky back. The Husky had a problem I've never had with my Stihl. I was cutting on a felled large red oak on a funky hill. Difficult to not pinch the bar sometimes due to gravity. Three times the Husky bar when pinched, bent in the bar grooves and locked the chain. Had to take off the chain and open the grooves up with a screwdriver. Only had half the tree done and exchanged for a Stihl MS271. The bar still got pinched a few times, but never locked-up once. To me, Stihl wins the bar strength contest hands down.
I like both---- ive got the husky 445.. that's my confidence saw. I know it will start and stay running everytime..... my stihl is good too cuts faster its a 271.. but the husky 445 is so reliable.. it will always start even in -40 temps
Bought a Husqvarna Rancher two days ago. Threw the chain in 30 minutes into cutting firewood no thicker than 12 inches. Huge pain in the ass to get everything lined up and tensioned again. Then it through the chain 6 more times. Returning tomorrow for a refund and I'm going to buy the Farm Boss. That whole external brake and tensioner setup is absolute shit.
I have a husky 450 rancher 20 inch and I love it. It has a ton of power and torque. And the fuel economy is great. It cruzes through big wood and stumps like it's nothin.
very well done , the reason that a have 455 is because friend of mine "gave it " to me, nice saw next time i am gone ask for a 362 ja
EY there chainsaw cutting friend... Can you tell me wich Husky is comparable with the Stihl ms 231? Hope to hear from you soon. 💪👍
For the price of the 455, which is $499 where I live, I would step up to the Stihl MS 291. Only $10 more than the Husky and more horsepower.
Can’t argue with that 😀
Well done. Enjoyed the video. I own/run a mix of both brands for different purposes around the homestead. I really don't have any brand preference.
What is your go to saw?
My go to is a Jonsered CS-2258. My others are a Husqvarna 455 Rancher and a Stihl MS 362 pro.
Thanks for your extremely thorough and helpful comparison. Seriously…Ive been doing some intense research for my first real chainsaw investment for almost a year and I don’t know how I ve missed you. You covered everything I needed to know! Internal clutch/brake over external. (Husky Men?) doesn’t the external clutch get all gunked up with bar oil and sawdust? Having a larger surface area locking air filter instead of a tool needing, tiny one is a no brainer...no wonder they’re concerned about the clutch causing heat. Big nuts. They’re more important than you’d think the older you get. And the most important mitigating factor that not a single soul on the internet has ever thought to tell me, if Im cutting hardwood, its gotta be the Stihl. Which Stihl (or other brand) would you recommend for felling and bucking, that also has enough hp and versatiity of bar size to use with a chainsaw mill? MS391 comes to mind. Just thought I’d pick your brain.
Sorry for the delayed response. If you are thinking about a mill there is a lot to consider. How large of slabs are you thinking/dreaming of? Remember once you get into it you will always want to get bigger :) I would recommend a 70cc at minimum for a mill. Check out the MS462 its weight vs the 391 it weight a bit less and has 1.6 more HP. You will be much happier milling with that saw.
Which saw is more recommended because I bought the 271 Farm Boss but also considered purchasing the 455 Rancher but even though the Rancher is supposed to be a more efficient saw for cutting I preferred the the Sthil myself due to the name and the advice giving to me by local people that uses both saws.
I’d say you made a great decision.
I choose the 271 Farm Boss
Used to cut 100 facordd a year using a stihl farmboss and a husqvarna both. The husky was smaller but would scream thru logs and was lighter. But I used that stihl for over 30 years. Have to replace it today. The Husqvarna is 100 dollars more and a little bit heavier so I'm going to stay with stihl.
I have 2 Husqvarna 345 saws. They are pretty good saws. Both are over 10 years old and still run fine. I have run a stihl saw that my friend owns as well. It is a great saw and is also over 10 years old. For someone like me who only uses a saw a few times per year I think either one is a good choice. My uncle was a logger who ran saws every day though and he preferred a stihl. The only stihl product I've ever owned personally was a weedeater. I think it was an fs90r? It was the best weedeater I've ever used. Unfortunately it was stolen several years ago so I've been using my dad's echo (also over 10 years old) but I will be buying another stihl weedeater the next time I need to buy one
Have a Stihl MS 290 for years, great saw, no problems. Never owned a Husky.
If you are a man of Stihl stick with it.
I like the flip top caps
I have only ever used Stihl to collect firewood here on the farm. I am constantly being told I need accelerator pumps and now have been told my cylinder is scraped in my wife's ms 171.(Uses it for delimbing While I cut with the ms 291). I have found that my ms291 has been very hard to start lately and wont stay running after it warms up unless I am constantly on the throttle. I get yearly services and maintenance done. I have been seriously looking into a 455 Rancher. But after seeing your video, I might have to jump up to the 460 to be comparable in power with my ms 291. Glad I watched your video. I never knew about the chain/brake/tensioner differences before. Very nicely done. Thank you.
You can't go wrong with a husky, I've got a 455 I bet the 460 is a beast.
I've had my stihl ms271 for 9yrs. No problems what so ever stihl #1 in my book
It’s a great saw I’m glad you’re having a good experience with it.
Totally shallow but I went with the Stihl just because of the name.."Farm Boss" sounded cooler to me than "Rancher"..
The name says it all!
If you get a comparable husky to sthil the husky revs much higher. Sthils are good down low, but up high a husky will cut faster and sounds meaner. But they are both good saws. Once you use em enough the writing on the bar will wear off anyway.