Fastfwd wrote:
I'm thinking about buying my father a new chainsaw

snip


He has about 30 acres with a wooded creek running through it. He
doesn't cut wood for burning anymore - so, this will really only be
for occasional use.

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I'm thinking a 16 inch is probably about all he needs really.

I have two different Stihl saws - the MS250c and the MS260. The 250 has
a 16" bar and the 260 has a 20" bar. Both are fantastic saws. Both start
easily, although the 250 is the easiest. The 260 starts relatively easy
as well, but the smaller 250 is really easy. The 250 is quite light and
easy to handle, and is in your price range, probably ideally suited for
what you described.

The only reason to consider the larger saw with a 20" bar has to do with
the age of your father-in-law. I'm in my upper 50's and have a bad back.
I bought the larger saw because I had a bunch of larger trees to deal
with, but one of the side benefits of the larger bar is that I don't
have to bend as far once the tree is on the ground. I wasn't thinking of
that when I purchased the saw, but it has turned out to be the saw I use
the most simply because I don't have to bend over as much. For me, it's
easier to use.

Rick