Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Stihl 180

Wouldn't buy one of those tiny Stihls, I prefer Husky.
And I wouldn't pay normal retail fora tiny Husky either.


Those brands are premium money, based on reputation.
Reputation built on small saws.
Durability, reliability, performance.
The homeowner saws do not deliver what the price promises.

If I were buying in farmer/rancher or under lines?
Echo.
All day, every day.
More saw for the money in those categories, better warranty than Stihl, matches Husky. Reliable, durable. Similar midrange performance.

My tiny saw is a 543xp.
Bought it for trimming, use it cutting small firewood more than I'd ever
have imagined. Our dealer can't sell small high dollar saws, I walked in to buy a chain,
walked out with 2, one on a new saw!
Closeout, $150 off!

Dealer Support

Dealer Support

Can't sell me on a sthil. I'm sure the pro grades are nice but those smaller home models I can do without.

Not sure what model my dad has but if it starts, it runs fine. Don't Like the plastic wing to adjust the chain either.

I got 4 echos from 16" to 36" and love them. Technically, 5 echos but 1 400 crapped out the oil pump. Thinking about buying an oil pump to get it back going. My wife loves those little cs-400's

Sthils aren't bad saws, we can all agree on, but I want something to start within a couple pulls

The Echo CS 310 looks like a good saw option of 14 or 16" bar. I 'm looking at buying one. I also looked at Stihl 180 reviews lean better for echo, the stihl had quiet a few reviews about being had to start not so much about Echo 310.

If you like a battery saw

The 310 is a nice little saw. We have a 16" bar on ours. A little underpowered but going slow it works. We use it as a back up incase the wife breaks hers and she has a tendency to flood mine out

It might be fine if he's only 4' 9" tall.

I agree, that's why I put a ring on her finger last month.

These kits were $330 delivered... a year or so ago... with FOUR batteries.

I bought two kits.

I have been very impressed with them for light work...

VERY IMPRESSED.

Yes I own big saws, but big saws are only for big work.

I picked up a new MS180 last year for a light saw, happy with it. Just have to remember it's a light duty homeowners saw. The saw I used the most before is a 40 yr old Stihl 028 Wood Boss, it's all around a higher performance saw, but gets heavy for stuff like trail work/trimming.

Spent a lot of time last summer/fall clearing woods to build a new camp. Mature hardwood forest, hard maple, black cherry, yellow birch 6 to 24 in diameter trees 40 to 100 ft tall. Felling trees and cutting to log lengths the 028 no question. Limbing tops or cutting smaller undergrowth the 180 was fine and less tiring. The 180 is also handier around home for small tasks. Easier to strap on a ATV for just in case use. The 180 has narrower chain and a lot less power, so will cut slower and bog down easier, but its not intended to replace my bigger saw.

Mine is the base MS180 with standard starting recoil. NO PRIMER BULB! Glad they got rid of that POS system. Starts good as long as you use recommended steps. A cousin has a MS180CE with the easy start recoil system. Less effort, but maybe $60 or $80 extra. Don't miss it.

I had a 180C and really liked it till I smushed it with my tractor accidentally. Replaced it with an MS250, but swapped that out for an MS251 with the easy start. Love that thing. The neighbor lusts after it. The 029 Farm Boss doesn’t get much use now. And the wife got a Stihl 12” bar battery saw. For light work the battery saw is Ok. For more serious work, the MS180C was better, and the 251 is outstanding. And the Farm Boss is a beast, but I don’t often need it.

I have big dead trees over 2 roads on our place. Tomorrow I’ll go after them with the 251 and tractor with grapple. And I hope no other trees are down from the big rain storm we just had (east central Texas).

So yes, the Stihl 180c chainsaw is a good one. The 251 with easy start is even better.

The 170-250 are all about the same physical size and weight…so what not go with the 250?

Go up the ladder to the MS 250. I have had one for 30 years and it's been great, and cuts above its weight with an 18 inch bar. It is still light and small enough to be handy, but it can do some bigger jobs in a pinch.

My son has had a couple of Stihl 180’s and a 170 along with a 261 pro saw. Although he killed one of the 180’s the other 180 and the 170 are still running fine even after being abused badly. He is the kind of guy who can break anything. He has used them far above their duty cycle and where he should have used his bigger saw.

Use as intended around the house trimming brush and small storm down trees a few times a year and they will give you good service.

My small saw is a Stihl 261, and it only went to the woods one time last year. It is too small for what I’m doing most of the time unless I’m just cutting a path. My 360 is the saw I grab most of the time. If a bigger saw is needed, 441 or 660 gets the nod

I got a littleSthil 170 and I use it quite a bit.
but it is what it is it's a small little saw quite convenient to carry on a four wheeler rack or the back of a side X side. also have a Stihl 261 than a Husqvarna 372 that both see a lot of use.

if you just need a small saw to cut up little things and do this and that that's a good saw.

if you think it's a firewood cutter for all year well you don't burn much firewood.

if you think you can do some modifications and make it really keep up with a factory 261 you're an idiot. they are what they are. if you think it might be a really good choice for a true homeowner saw or even a very small landowner type saw with brush yeah you might be correct..

for the money difference to buy it over a 180 yeah that might be a good choice

Congrats!

I missed that...

Congratulation!

Courage matters!