.325" or 3/8"

newbury · Jan 21, 2011

buck12 said:
Which threads are you referring to? The Stihl website list specs for the 261 but when I link to retailer sites they show the 260 and prices for it. I need a saw by February. I spend February and half of March, between deer and turkey season, doing land clearing, cleaning shooting lands, etc. I hope to make it by the local shop tomorrow. I was in the shop about a month ago and they had a 260.

My understanding is that linking to other sites is a no-no. The guy that ported one of the 660's I've got, Brad Snelling, started a thread that stretched over 1,300 POSTS titled "The MS 261 is here".
Admittedly they are hard to find.

Will_C · Jan 21, 2011

I bought a 260 last fall and had the same choice. I opted for the 3/8" chain simply because, as others have posted, I have another saw that takes 3/8" chain. I have probably 12 files, 3 or 4 new chains and 5-6 used chains that are 3/8". If you want the saw to be as fast as possible, go with the .325". I am using the 260 as my small saw, so speed isn't as important to me.

Will

tawilson · Jan 21, 2011

I've got a Husky 346xpg which came with .325 chain. I switched to 3/8 for the same chain/file reasons, then switched back when I bought a "chainsaw a bear video". I couldn't see a heck of a lot of difference when cutting wood, but the .325 made the bear carving easier. Maybe I'll get through the rest of the video this winter.

buck12 · Jan 22, 2011

newbury said:
My understanding is that linking to other sites is a no-no. The guy that ported one of the 660's I've got, Brad Snelling, started a thread that stretched over 1,300 POSTS titled "The MS 261 is here".
Admittedly they are hard to find.

I found the thread. Wow those guys are serious about chainsaws. I am going to wait a couple of weeks and if a 261 is not available locally I will go with the 260.

yomax4 · Feb 19, 2011

I like both .325 and 3/8 chain. .325 for my smaller saws and 3/8 for my big hogging saws. I found that on my Stihl 026 pro saws, The .325's cut faster on brach and limb material. I found on my Stihl 039's and larger saws, The 3/8 chains cut like Mad!!! When cutting big hard wood timber trunks, You need a big saw with a big bite chain that moves the chips fast. You wont get that as well with the .325.