Stihl MS 261 CM vs Husqvarna 550 xp Mark 2 - Pro Chainsaw Comparison 

I'm giving away a BRAND NEW STIHL MS 261 chainsaw! Enter now through November 23, 2023 (Thanksgiving Day). Details here: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-ZBVu7w2BElM.html

This chainsaw worked well to cut up a pile of cedar logs ru-vid.comUgkxfQm1wmg0ItKDLavxj1nXtQY9HP7EF504 and stumps. I used it to cut 12"-16" diameter logs and a handful of odd-shaped stumps that were larger in diameter. There was more than enough power even when using 2x100' extension cords. Be sure to use the right gauge extension cord, since you should be using a slightly higher gauge cord than the standard extension cord most folks have around the house. My 2 favorite features of this saw over previous ones I've used are the built-in sharpener and the quick stop after the the throttle is released compared to a gas-powered chainsaw. As soon as you release the trigger, the chain stops spinning immediately because of the electric motor. Standard feature of most of these electric chainsaws, but worth mentioning here for anyone not familiar with it.Bottom line...I needed a chainsaw to get through some backyard cleanup of logs and tree stumps. For the price of renting a chainsaw for a few days, I got this Oregon chainsaw that got the work done, and now I own it for future use.

You're review is pretty much bang on how I feel. I liked Husky and Stihl, pretty much equally. Until the 550 came out.. it blew my friggen mind. It definitely tipped the scales and gave Husky the edge (for me.) I honestly didn't think we would see a better, or even comparable saw. Along came the Mark II. Even more impressive! Besides the MS200, the 880, and the HT131, Husky was always my go to. Then when the 261 came out, I really didn't have high expectations. But I was very impressed. It's pretty comparable to the 550, just lighter. And you it the nail on the head, the 550 has the low end torque. The 261 has a lot of power at high RPMs and in spurts. But I feel like the 550 eats logs faster. Thanks for the review!

I have ran both, and personally I like the 261. The husky is a great saw, but the stihl just felt better to me.

I work with a chainsaw 6-8 hours every weekday, i have both saws, but only really use the Stihl. We have MS500i and 661 for felling and use the MS 261cm for limbing etc. Its pwr/wght ratio and balance is just unmatched, the ms500i is super balanced as well, but too heavy if you have to use it for hours EVERY day. Go for the lightest! Also im just too used to repairing stihl myself, so I dont know much about reliability of the 2 saws in the video, as heavy use will wear any saw. Also remember sharp chain, chain tension and bar-weight means alot:) The Husqvarna is a good saw as well.

I’m a long time stihl guy but I have to appreciate this review ! The side by side was well pieces together and easy to compare !

I really like the Stihl saws because off their power and acceleration. But the saws i use for every day work is Husqvarna. A second plus or minus in the cut does’nt mean that much in real life compared to other things such as vibrations, fuel economy, air filtration etc, etc. The leaking oil and fuel caps on the Stihl is a long story, (yes i’ve owned several thru the years). The huskys are more reliable in the arctic climate up here (northern scandinavia). When bucking firewood or ripping/milling i use the Stihl. For cutting and limbing and every day forest work the husky is my choise. Thank you for sharing your thaughts. Keep up the good work! 👍

Great analogy using the two types of cars when comparing these chainsaws. And you were also spot on about dealer support. I have a 395XP and a 592XP and your analogy makes complete sense. However when I ran my saws along side of my friends Stihl Arsenal, I found that the Husky’s excelled at both. Torque and high end. Maybe because I have auto tube saws and I keep my regular carburetor size precision tuned. It helped that I used to run Husqvarna motorcycles and I’m real familiar with two cycle engines. The Stihl was definitely all about high RPM’s. I do prefer the kinesthetics and the performance of the Husqvarna, but the Stihl’s are great saws. When you follow the hot start and cold start MO for the Husky’s they start instantly. I noticed my buddy always struggled with starting his Stihl’s well into the day

I have recently purchased a new husky 550xp mark ll and absolutely love it, its a screamer ive cut a few different types of wood with it so far and with a sharp chain it will eat whatever you throw at it! Ive never ran a saw before that was so smooth, revs high quick and doesn’t bog down at all while in the cut it just wants more lol i cant speak for the stihl but extremely happy with my new husky!

Great videos man. Very well put together. Both GREAT saws. Seems like STIHL used to have the torque advantage (older 261s vs. 346XPs). My 346XP, stock, gets plenty of weekly work and it really likes the high end portion on the power band.

I have the 550 zip mark ii, it’s an amazing saw, another great video btw, I’d still like to get the STIHL also, I just love chainsaws

Had a play with an MS 261 and a 550 XP today I think the Husqvarna is the better made saw in terms of quality. The 04 light 050 bar in my opinion does not cut quicker than the 058 full chisel chain on the Husqvarna. In the UK 🇬🇧 Stihl and Husqvarna dealers are both prevalent great video.

Good video I have same problem I have both and they are becoming my two favorite saws..Either one and you can't go wrong.

I started with a Husky 455 Rancher and absolutely love the saw. Built a log cabin with it. But needed to replace the bar and could not find the same replacement anywhere near me or online. Thought it'd be a good time to move to a professional saw, and wanted to stay Husky so the 550 Mark II was perfect. But no dealers within an hour from me, other one shut up shop :( Fortunately the Stihl dealer is 5min away, so made the shift and picked up my MS 261 C today. That Husky looks like she rips, so hoping I don't regret my decision! 😬

I have had one Stihl MS 260 for over 20, probably 25 years, recently it has started slowly dying out me, I am guessing I just wore it out. So, I am hesitate about getting anything but another Stihl, however you do bring out a valid point as far a parts availability. I can go to any number of Tractor Supply Stores around here and get every day items for a Husky, where as a Stihl is more of a specialized saw. So, now you have me thinking about a Husqvarna.

You summed it up very well in that no matter which saw you purchase you will be happy with it. However I do have my own 2 cents to toss in regarding the Stihl 261. I have no experience with the Husqvarna saws other than a 136 I bought for camping which is a very nice little saw. As to the 261 I have I let the saw shop old guy talk me into getting the manual carburetor adjust model over the electronic self adjust, not real sure he was correct in steering me that direction or not and most likely will never know. Day one I was disappointed in my 261, performance did not match the hype. I have had it for two years now and I absolutely love my 261 Stihl now. I had the dealer set it up with a 3/8 chain with a 7 tooth sprocket with a 20 inch bar and I thought I just screwed up by going to the larger chain size and longer bar. I did buy a second saw set up the same as a wedding present for some friends so I must have liked something about it. All this came about from reviews just about everywhere I could find them regarding a good home bucking saw for firewood. Subject matter is knarly fir, soft wood but knots abound. Pine and fir is all we have here in Montana so there is that to consider. I buy my logs by the truck load and then buck to size myself because it is cheaper, I get the size I want that fits my stove and I totally enjoy running chainsaws. Now that I have established the parameters let’s get into it. Initially not very impressed and called it the saw that almost was but the more I ran it the better it got, no not kidding. It got stronger as I used it more which I can attribute to breaking in. Looking for more out of this saw I opened up the exhaust port on the side of the muffler and excommunicated the spark arrester screen, don’t need it in my yard, forest yes my yard no. It got even better with this muffler modification. I opened the exit hole about half again the size it was stock and welded a small scoop on it to direct the exhaust gases forward, a tig welder is nice to have. :) Having bought a light weight 25 inch bar for my Stihl 462 I put the old stock 462s 25 inch bar and chain on the 261 just to see what would happen and it works fantastically. The saws oiling system supplies enough oil to the bar and chain which was a relief, just enough not more. I save my 462 for the larger wood but run my 261 most of the time in wood 12 inches and under in diameter. The 261 will take larger wood no problem but I find the 462 does it better of course. Being an older guy weight is a concern and the 261 is a joy to use. Stihl saws are happiest at higher revs so I keep it spinning and have zero regrets with this saw. My faithful Jonsered 625 II is the saw I have used for years prior to purchasing my Stihl saws and is still in primo condition, I take good care of my tools. As I have aged the Jonsered gets heavier it seems but I still take it to the wood pile just for fun and let it know it has not been forgotten. The Jonsered and Husqvarna saws in 1991/2 were for most practical purposes the same saw just different colors, personally I like red. Good video! :)

Great review.. Logging the big stuff and bucking, I'll tale a tuned old school McCulloch for the low end torque and manual/auto pulse oiler. Them old Macs are way underrated and parts are on the cheap!!

We have both saws at home. We do use them side by side when cutting the trees to 35cm logs. Both have the lenght of the bar. The Husky eats the wood quicker and perform better in lower RPM. We never had any issues with Stihl. After 3 summers the chain keeps getting lose on Husky. Just ordered new clutch cover and this should sort the issue out. Both great saws but at the end it goes down how well you can sharpen your chain

Great video! I am loving my Husqvarna 550XP Mark II as well. That baby screams and can’t believe the Stihl revs higher. The build quality is amazing on the Husqvarna and it just looks way cooler. I guess I am one of the few to say I don’t have the urge to try the Stihl.

Glen, I have a 261 and agree mine was a bit nose heavy with the std 18" bar but I recently fitted it with a 20" 04 light bar and it feels perfectly balanced now!

Both saws are really impressive. Tons of power for a 50cc. Always preferred the more authentic feel of the Husky

Both cut the same if they have the same chain.. lol. I do prefer the Husky's though. It just feels better in my hands. Both are good saws though..

Your analogy is perfect. It's actually what I've thought of comparing Stihl to Husqvarna before. Though I will say I don't think Aston Martins rev super high.

I love my MS261C I would say it definitely has gained more low end torque since it's actually broke in now and has lots of high rpm power it's an amazing saw!!

I like both of these saws. It was such a tough choice, that I bought a Dolmar 5105. Absolutely no regrets. Love the saw. My biggest complaint with the stihl is the damn plastic handle. Cold and slippery in winter and a little more transfer of vibration because of no rubber foam cushion like dolmar and husqvarna. I have two friends with 261's. They both like them.

What was said below: Safety chain vs normal chain. Use duplicate style chains and rerun. Weight can also be a cutting factor. By the looks of how you are holding the saws it looks like the Stihl weighs about 12 pounds and the husk wieghs about 15. More weight pushing down equals faster cuts and maybe faster wear on the bar.

like the review love both saws 2 things #1 not the same chains used a timid green chain on the 261 # 2 check the second cut review you placed the stihl on the tree when you cut through the saw just sat in your hands the husky was placed with force on the tree and when you finished the cut force was still pushing and the saw had momentum with force

Not to take anything away from the 550, as it's certainly an outstanding saw but I run RS chain on my 261 and see a much better flow of chips. Those saws should have run between a second of each other in that small log. I do appreciate your demonstration though, thank you.

It's clear that the Husqvarna is a faster cutting saw. That said I have a ms 362 and a ms261. I think the Stihl is built for the long haul. Two ring piston on the Stihl. 1 ring piston on the Husqvarna.

I am shopping both these saws. I have owned both brands and have good support for both in my smallish size town. I am getting older now and that extra pound that you can't feel I think might be important to me as I get longer in the tooth. I would probably put lightest bar I could find on either of them. I am sure the difference in cut speed you showed was chain related. These are both wonderful brands and I will end up with one of these saws. Thanks for sharing.

excellent and great video. I guess the notorius difference in the cut between both chainsaws is due to the difference in chain width (1.3 Husqvarna VS 1.6 mm Stihl). It would be possible to use the 261's bar and chain in 550xp mk2 or viceversa?? It would be the definitive comparison.

Husky's are my ball of wax, so the choice is obvious! ! Husky all the way for me! Bought 572 a year ago (love it) and wanna add a 550xp mkll to the mix also in the worst way!! And sounds like husky is releasing new 90cc saws too!!!!!! Really exciting stuff!! Have a great day!

I know the videos 10 months old but I’ve run both, the Stihl had the new lightweight narrow kerf bar and 1.3mm square chisel chain and was able to run both saws on the same chain. Makes a massive difference to both saws but the 550 seemed to be quicker. Might be worth a new video for yourself to see….

Great video, I just got a 261with an 18 bar....question is where is your bar made? USA or Germany? Thank you.

This should be a good comparison. I like my 550 and 545 mkII but the 545 really surprised me. Used my echo 501P the other day cutting a willow tree blown over then used makita ea5000preg w 3/8 and I will say with certainty I know the makita will run with either 261/550 But they are $500+ now too. rated 3.9HP

You need to switch the chains and run them another three cuts to see the real difference

I went in to buy a new 550xp today but they’d just sold the last 2 they had. So I ended up getting a 261cm. Wanted a 16” bar on the 261 but all they had was 18 and 20 so went with the 18”.

This would of been a better test if you would of used the same chain, I couldn't tell exactly but on my screen the Stihl chain looked like it was their "green" chain (the little colored box) which is more of a home use or beginner chain with reduced kickback but it also cuts slower, I believe the ms261 comes from factory with a yellow chain on it but I can't remember, but for the most accuracy in this test try using a third party chain like Oregon on both, Oregon is a great brand that a lot of people use

I personally am a stihl guy and have ran and own several models. I've been considering the MS261 & 550xp to have a smaller saw for smaller wood. I kinda want to try the husky tho. Looks like she rips!

Glenn you mentioned the 543xp fit a light saw, what do you think of the 545xp? Are there autotune or durability issue's?? Thanks Rob

I'm all for Husqvarna but the tests that i have seen, the stihl 261 cm was faster. I think the husqvarna Xcut chain is just so much better out of the box compared to the particular stihl chain that you used. Non the less both are incredible saws, i would have hard time deciding which one to get, so i understand why you have both :)

You should mention this is a totally redesigned husky 550xp because the original had so many problems that they had to go back to the drawing board to get a 50cc saw that could keep up with the stihl. No bias here because i have the original 550xp.

The people have spoken, and I'm running these saws against each other again with a different chain on the Stihl on Friday's (4/2/21) video.

great video !! ....just curious as to which one has less vibration...thumbs up

Excellent, and very fair review. Thank you!

The first thing I noticed was that you had to prime the husky before starting it and the sthil you just had to press the trigger to move the lever to the prime position and then start it and then press the trigger again to get it to the on position so that is a good idea 🥰

Hi i loved he video I zoomed in on the chain boxes and noticed the the 261's chain was a .63 gauge while the 550 had a .50 gauge chain meaning the 261 is cutting a wider kerf and the reason it cut slower and stihl bars are heavier as well those x cutts are light just my 2 cents keep up the good work

I'm not a professional but I've been cutting my own firewood for about 5 years now. Approximately 5 cords per year. When I was young, I told my father that I would never cut firewood when I get older but here I am cutting firewood. I started on a cheaper Sthil MS171 (1.3Kw) then purchased an MS251 (2.4Kw) because I needed more power. I still own the ms171 and it's a good saw but I can't use it because I find it hard on my back standing up waiting for this thing to cut. There's a huge difference between the two saws. Yes the chain is sharp but you just can't lean on it and cut faster without it stalling. My MS251 is literally my go-to saw but now I'm wondering if it's worth the investment to go to a pro-level saw to get more power in a very similar weight. Now in thinking of going pro grade for better power to weight. The MS261 is 3.0Kw at almost the same weight as my MS251. Am I being foolish!

Which one of the saws have the least vibration in your opinion ? I have found that the vibrations after cutting all day really makes a difference. Thanks for the great videos of these 2 saws !

I have not done the muff mod on echo yet but will. If you watch echos video of that saw you can see they opened up the exaust.I did it on my 490 and noticed it too.%02P is a fantastic light saw but wont cut as fast as the 261/550/5000p so what its almost 2lbs lighter. And Im on first tank.Prrob didnt make over 6 cuts.the makita is a force to be dealt with so all the husq/stihl guys may be surprised.

Which one is better? That is the question I could not answer hence ended up with 16 chainsaws- Stihl, Husky, Echo, Shindaiwa and 2 Chinese Perla Barbs.

Im gonna wait for the mark18 so I know for sure i got the latest model!

Crank bearings just went in my second 550 and also my 562 . Mine are non mark 2 550s btw. Are the mark 2s better or do the stihls hold up better ?

I have the Stihl MS 261 C-M, my brother has the Husqy 550XP and we were thinking of getting the Echo CS-501P to compare it with too.

If you're into these 2 chainsaws, I have a playlist for each of them. Check them out here. MS 261 Playlist: ru-vid.com/group/PLJjXJCzHs0pPTSaa37K8AY7Wuo9IFp3Be. 550 xp mark 2 playlist: ru-vid.com/group/PLJjXJCzHs0pNnHi56lz4vKRjhHC0zWZxj

I know 1 pound of difference in weight doesn’t sound like a lot, but if you pack a saw around for eight hours a day by the end of the day you will appreciate the 261‘s lighter weight.

The 261 has a safety chain, so it does not cut as aggressive as the x cut husqvarna

I looked at both and decided on the 550XP MK 2. The Mk2 is actually a pound heavier than the 261 but the Husky felt lighter and better balanced.

Hi pal, I purchased my self Husqvarna 565 and I would like to see comparison vs 550xp mark 2 If you think that you will have opportunity to put your 550 against 565 please let me know so I will try to stay around:)) For the moment I subscribe at your channel I saw first video with 550 mark 2 Reviews ane second video this. And I want to tell you that, you do very good content (video comparison's) I'm pretty happy. I don't understand 100% English but I understand most of the words I'm happy Thumbs up for bought videos I saw😃

Like everyone else is saying the narrower gauge chain on the Husky (1.3mm vs 1.6mm) will for sure cut faster every time, not a very fair comparison. The Stihl equipped with a 1.3mm bar and chain would most likely match the time of the Husky.

good video ! thank you so much.

In Australia an MS261C is $1499 AUD and a Husky 550XP is $1555 AUD. That is approximately USD $1124 and $1166

I have the MS 261 but if I could choose again I would take the 550 MK 2. I just love Husqvarnas aggressive engines

I think a diff chain on 261 would make big diff. IDK

Awesome video, thanks

can I ask. is the MS261 the same as a Husqvarna 455 Rancher? as the Rancher is a larger HP! I have a 550 xp 24'' for big work, but I want to change my Husqvarna 240 x torq 2011 16" for a 18'' your thoughts. alway had Husqvarna never had a Stihl.

That green steel chain is semi chisel, was the husky chain semi as well?

Used to feel the other way around…the older stihls had more Grunt and low end torque with Husky having a higher chain speed. (Exception of a few husky saws like the 95cc pro saws…they were all about low end torque.) Lately I look at it more like Stihl pushes new innovative technologies the most with a lot of hiccups…Husky stays in a bit more proven technology with less hiccups(they do have some quality control issues it seems but not to the point I don’t trust their quality) while Echo tries to perfect older technology with the least hiccup but also less power per pound performance.

Bro use the same style chain = street cred..

love yours video, i have a husqvarna 550xpg love it,thanks for your help :) from norway :)

I noticed you put a safety chain on the stihl . They cut slower then the non safety chain on the saw .

Have the stihl years now NEVER missed a beat have cut acres of timber great saw great service

very good video But i think the stihl chain just wasnt cutting it.I dont prefer stihl but its do to prostate exams by stihl in the past.The Makita ea5000preg used to have flooding issues when left in garage or barn fuel up. Im keeping track and if my new one floods then they still havent fixed. But i let it set for 2 mos with small amount fuel VP 50:1 I thought it was flooded it started on on but then died so I put on choke.I checked fuel was almost empty. Filled up all the way and its 80 degrees today. May see today?? Fingers crossed but has lowend power like a diesel. Plus screams 13,800 too if you let it. I add about half teaspoon stihl ultra oil to ea gal of vp.So I do like stihl oil!!!!!

Was the mark 1 released before the 261?

Husqvarna all day for me. I bought mark 2 and am up against a hopped up 261 (ported, dogs, polished) and my stock 550 still surprises a fellow co worker of mine. Imagine if I actually did some mods to the Husq. Not that I will. I only bought it to make my life easier (flat cutting power lines at work). I do also send full trees parallel to power lines with lean and winch.

I have the 261 so I do have bias but c’mon dude, put equal chains on them. I switched to a full chisel and it’s night and day different.

Darn it! You just cost me 600 bucks, i had to get that mark2, I could not be happy with the first version!

Which is easier to pull start?... at my age that is a consideration

Thank you for a good vid! I just bought a Stihl MS250, as it was a nearby dealer - but Husqvarna seems a better choice - for many reasons. I agree: the more torquey Husqvarna engine, would be better. Other videos, also illustrate the same excellent torque curve. I do like my Stihl, but if buying again, I would certainly consider Husqvarna.

Had a husky 372 i think older saw now. But was great.

550xp all day! I'm currently porting my dolmar 5105 in an attempt to go head to head with a stock 550xp.

I have stihl ms 250 and ms 180.When we first bought ms 250 in 2009 we were litle bit consider shold we bought bigger or small?So for fired we chose ms 250,and ms 180 is another story!I told my dad that i need chainsaw for small branches and three years ago ms 180 came at our home!

What chainsaw will last longer over the years, stihl or husqvarna?

Husqvarna all day every day.i have 5 of them all run great..

i love my 550 xp man! so mutch power on hand

They are light but a pound is a lot in comparison I don't care if they are the same class, a closer weight comparison is the 362. Difference being half a pound, with a huge advantage in bars choice. This option comes at a big $$ increase though. Also are you running an xcut chain on the husky, you failed to mention the shorter bar. Bar length is huge, I wanted one of these for liming until I realized such short bars would eliminate any weight advantage The 550 is a beast at its price point, nothing appears to touch it.

Thank you for your video. I have a first generation 550XP. Just trying to decide if I should get the MarkII!!

I think the Stihl ms261cm weight is 12 or less pounds which seems pretty light. Anyone know how it compares to the Husqvarna 543 xp ? What's the significant differences. Thanks 💥

Thanks for the video. at any time, any saw from the factory will be significantly faster than another, even within the brand. tool changes in the plant, castings, etc., vary, sometimes radically, and every once in a while, really good, or really bad saws show up (squish, port timing, part quality, etc. causes the difference. In my opinion, Husqvarna machines are fugly, I will stick with Stihl. Also, I have more parts, bars, and experience with Stihl products.

I had one of the old farm boss Husqvarna ones

Seems like the Stihl wasn't calibrated. Let it run for just over 30 seconds with selector to the 🔻 position, chain brake on. Then take off the brake and fully depress throttle. Hold it for at least 30 seconds. You will hear the saw calibrating. When the RPM noticeably drop, its complete. Or see page 44 in your manual.

1,6 vs 1,3 mm chain...is that fair? BTW, I'm a husqvarna fan

someone has most likely stated this, but the Stihl chain is inferior to the Husky chain, makes a big difference, I personally go Husky all day.

Make please stihl light 04 bar and rm pro chain on 261. This would be the best compare.

The oil and fuel caps on the Stihl is a deal breaker...can't wipe sawdust from them... Iknow a guy that rinses them with premix before removal ,husky caps 100% superior

You should try it again with a yellow Stihl chain on the 261c

I just bought a ms 261c I used the husky 562 at work in the past and they were junk maybe a lemon batch but I do brushing right now and tree work as a groundsman but this 261c will be lighter than my MS 461

Amazing video but still dont understand how can be hsq that much faster when this saws have same power

It's interesting how they are flipping. In yesteryears stihls was always over engineered tanks. And Husqvarna was the lighter more nimble saw. Now stihl is on average a pound lighter and Husqvarna is making there saws heavier than ever. Old stihls are my go to but the new huskys are coming in strong....

Sorry was 357 husky. Lasted well loved it.