Which $200 chainsaw?

[MarkL]

I'm in the market for a chainsaw. I will only use it a few times a year, so "consumer grade" will do. However, I prefer to avoid the bottom of the barrel $99 variety. For no particular reason I chose $200 as my price point.

Home Depot has the Echo CS305 for $200
Northern has the Husqvarna 142 for about $220

Any recommendations on saws in that price range?

[Swift]

Tween the 2 go with the Husky. I'd hold out for a Stihl if ya can though.

[FIJI]

for the Stihl


BEST starting saws out there

[TreeDoc]

My .02

Between those 2 saws I'd get the Echo in a heartbeat. In my tree care operation I have purchased "occasional user" saws many times. Many of them have been Echos, some Stihls, some Husky. Between the 3 in this class the Echos have always run the best, longest, & strongest. I still have a couple floating around my garage where when the Stihls or Huskys have conked, they've been thrown in the trash due to high repair costs.

Now, when you get into a larger saw, say 45-50cc and above, the tables turn. Stihl and Husky corner that market. That 305 is a little saw...are you sure it's enough for you? You might consider the next step up like the 346 if you want the long handle as opposed to the top handled model like a 341. Echo just came out with their new line like the 360 which is designed for my market specifically or considered an Arborist's Saw. It's still under $300 bones if I recall correctly and is a powerful saw for a great price. The Stihl equivalent is an MS200T which is still the best Arborist's saw in the world but will cost you about $550. In that arena, Husky just plain sucks, IMHO. I've been burned on their Arborist saw but their bigger saws have done me right.