Stihl MS 311

kenmac · May 5, 2023

would this be a commercial grade, or home owner grade saw ?

RandyT · May 5, 2023

Unless something changed that would be homeowner grade. Use to be even numbers were commercial and odd were homeowner, but that line is somewhat skewed at this point.

hodge · May 5, 2023

Homeowner.

LD1 · May 5, 2023

Definitely homeowner. Though I think stihl considers it a "mid-grade" saw. But its clamshell type saw.
Still not a bad saw though....stihl makes a good saw. Just not the HP/weight or performance of some of the more expensive saws.

xyz123 · May 5, 2023

Homeowners use them around here and listed as farm ranch by stihl. Plastic clamshell saw. IMO so much better built saws out there in that price range of $600+ they want for them. https://www.stihlusa.com/products/chain-saws/farm-and-ranch-saws/ms311/

thclimer · May 5, 2023

xyz123 said:
Homeowners use them around here and listed as farm ranch by stihl. Plastic clamshell saw. IMO so much better built saws out there in that price range of $600+ they want for them. https://www.stihlusa.com/products/chain-saws/farm-and-ranch-saws/ms311/

Which other saws would you recommend?

5030 · May 5, 2023

Stihl's have become way over priced and everyone needs at least a muffler mod. Stihl is operating under the JD mantra. Charge a premium price.

kenmac · May 5, 2023

Appreciate the responses. I thought it might be a commercial saw by the price $600+.
Seems like a pretty good saw. I didn't purchase it, someone gave it to me, and just wondered if it was commercial or home owner grade.
I guess just not as good as my 372xp

xyz123 · May 6, 2023

thclimer said:
Which other saws would you recommend?

Echo 590 with mag case or pay alittle more for the upgraded echo 620. Chainsaws | ECHO-USA.com

turnkey4099 · May 11, 2023

kenmac said:
Appreciate the responses. I thought it might be a commercial saw by the price $600+.
Seems like a pretty good saw. I didn't purchase it, someone gave it to me, and just wondered if it was commercial or home owner grade.
I guess just not as good as my 372xp

I bought the 310 (I don't know what the modification was in the 311) back when they first came out. A very good, reliable saw. It ate literally acres of trees. I actually ran it until I started up grading to commercial grade Stihls. It had almost no compression at that point but still ran. I gave it to a buddy and he has it as his primary saw today.