Stihl MS361 MS260
Husky 357xp or 359

It depends on what you want to cut. Bigger wood is better with a bigger saw, maneuvering around smaller wood will be a little easier with a smaller lighter saw. If you have to have Stihl or Husky then ladylake has a good list. I would also add the Husky 346xp. Husky's equivalent MS260.

Which is better is alot of personal opinion. Get the one you like and with the dealer that you like. I'm guessing you'll need support after the sale, so a dealer would be some thing you should look for.

what are you looking to use it for? i have one i will sell you for cheap.

It will be used to do a bunch of things such as reclaim roads of downed trees.(pine) Cut our huge family's christmas trees, and cut 8 cords of almond and oak a year for our family's fireplaces. Not an obscene amount, but I believe you get what you pay for, and it is going to be a present, so it has to be new, and quality.(don't want him to complain!) lol. Thanks

You definitely are on the right track, an entry level home owner unit will not do what you will ask of it. Ladylake has some excellent suggestions, others to look at would be Dolmar, Jonsered (basically a red Husqvarna)Shindaiwa, or Echo. The most important thing is a well stocked dealer who will look after it after the sale regardless of brand.

Thank you guys very much! I will now locate a good dealer.

snappy1,

Just a caution -- a big box store doesn't count as a good dealer in my opinion. One reason I selected Stihl is they don't sell chainsaws online, while Husqvarna does. It kind of scares me that a kid could wind up with a chainsaw that way.

Stihl dealers are reasonably knowledgeable about chainsaws, but I have seen big box stores selling a chainsaw to someone who has never used a chainsaw and, incidentally, the salesman hadn't used one either. Blind leading the blind...

My Stihl dealer spent nearly two hours counseling me on my selection of a model and bar length, proper ways to start the saw, how to use the saw safely, how to adjust the bar oiling rate for different woods, and how to maintain the saw, including how to sharpen the chain.

Incidentally, I selected a Stihl MS361 (that was back when it first came out several years ago) with a 16-inch bar and their standard "green" chain. It cuts very fast despite the green chain. It would be scary fast with a more aggressive chain. I also got chainsaw chaps and a Stihl helmet with ear protectors and a full face screen. The screen wire has the advantage of not fogging up in cold weather, it's unbreakable, and since the screenwire is black, you don't notice it. I really like that helmet and I also wear it while I am using my MacKissic 12PT9 shredder chipper.

ZM

I am glad you had such a good experience with that dealer, we need more like him.

i suggest use husqvarna.you can read review on this site :

http://chainsawguides.com/

This thread is over 6 years old, he has likely made his decision.