20" Chainsaw - Echo or Stihl Recomendation

[Burnadell]

I have one of each. Like them both!

[txlawdog]

Stihl for me, and the premixed fuel has worked out great too.

[Muskles]

My answer is yes! I run an echo around the house a few times a year. I have friends and family that use Stihl. They're both awesome machines.

[Rubi513]

Both are good, I prefer Stihl.

[Neyber89]

No brainier Stihl take care of it last long time easy to work on like chain adjustment

[JeffK]

I own a tree service and use a chainsaw daily. My go-to saw for ground work is a Stihl MS 261C Pro with a 18" bar. It'll run a 20" just fine and has even run a 30" when I had a breakdown on my 460 while taking down what was left of a 48" Water Oak. If you're going to use it often, buy a Pro saw, period. Don't buy the junk from Home Depot, Lowes, etc... go to a Stihl dealer or an Echo dealer that sells their higher end saws. Use Marine Stabil if mixing your own 2-cycle (I know kw the oil mix says it has fuel stabilizer already). Keep a clean air and fuel filter handy too.

Thanks for the input. The 261 was the one I was looking at for stihl.

[Shinesintx]

Stihl...have never used an Echo, but love my two Stihls. I run a Farm Boss and a Pro model.

[bowhntrmatt]

I have a stihl ms271 18" saw that I bought about 3 years ago. It hasn't let me down yet. I'll use it heavy for a weekend and then not see it for 6 months. Still starts right up and idles/runs great. I also only run stihl premix gas in it.

[MilMan]

I prefer Stihl and have zero complaints. Also I run all their products in their saws. Yeah, I know you can probably mix your own and what not, just easier to run their product imo.

[Texas Grown]

I have a stihl ms271 18" saw that I bought about 3 years ago. It hasn't let me down yet. I'll use it heavy for a weekend and then not see it for 6 months. Still starts right up and idles/runs great. I also only run stihl premix gas in it.

It's what I've got also. And I like the idea of using a 16" or 20" blade besides the 18" it came with.

When Oncor's contractors came through our neighborhood clearing the tree tops for the lines last summer, the monkey swinging from tree to tree carried a Stihl on his waist.

[Arrowthreat]

We have a Stihl ms 391 with a 20" bar, and a 90's model echo with an 18" bar. Both are excellent saws, but from what I've gathered from guys at the dealers, and talking to landscape guys, is that echo's are not what they used to be.

[JonBoy]

They're both great brands. I own a 16" Stihl MS series that ran great until it didn't and I need to take it in and get it looked at...it refuses to turn over now even after new plugs. I just went and bought a new Echo and it runs just as great as my Stihl did and turns over super easy

[JeffK]

We have a Stihl ms 391 with a 20" bar, and a 90's model echo with an 18" bar. Both are excellent saws, but from what I've gathered from guys at the dealers, and talking to landscape guys, is that echo's are not what they used to be.

I was gathering that Stihl wasn't what they used to be. That's why I was considering echo. Maybe that is for the cheaper models.

[jb1312]

I have went to echo myself.
I have a 590 and it is a dang good saw.

[HunterU]

Stihl Farm Boss with 20" bar is what I got and its the best! I used the pre mixed fuel. The best thing for it. I love mine and i don't think i could ever use anything else. Stihl for life! HaHa