treemuncher
Senior Member
Back in the early 90's, when I was taking the Master Logger Course, I asked the instructor and several of the other students the same question regarding saws. To quote the instructor, "They are both great saws but, if you want something easy to get parts for, get a Stihl. If you want something needing less service and maybe more dependable, get a Husky." It was an opinion. I had never run either saw before that.
I was handed a new Husky 272XP the day we were out in the field practicing the "open face" cut approach. DAMN, I never had anything in my hands that would cut so fast! All I currently had at home was my father's old Shindawa and Poulan. They were slow, had no chain brakes and less than dependable. I NEEDED a real saw for my new business so, on the way home from class, I stopped at Bailey's when they had a store in Jackson and purchased a new 272XP starter kit that included everything I needed except the experience. Bailey's was also the store that furnished the saw for the class to use. Thankfully, saw chaps came with that kit and saved my leg a few years later.
I would still be using that same saw today had it not been stolen from a jobsite. What did I replace it with? A 385 XP. I keep a 20", 28" and 52" bar for the saw. It is the only saw that I own. It is all that I need. I don't cut on a daily basis but when I do, my cuts are fast and efficient. I prefer to spend my time in an air conditioned cab rather than running a saw. But, when I need the saw, this one never fails me.
Since my first 272, I've had a few hours running other people's Stihls. Nice saws, good performance but at the end of the day, I will chose my Husky every time.
I was handed a new Husky 272XP the day we were out in the field practicing the "open face" cut approach. DAMN, I never had anything in my hands that would cut so fast! All I currently had at home was my father's old Shindawa and Poulan. They were slow, had no chain brakes and less than dependable. I NEEDED a real saw for my new business so, on the way home from class, I stopped at Bailey's when they had a store in Jackson and purchased a new 272XP starter kit that included everything I needed except the experience. Bailey's was also the store that furnished the saw for the class to use. Thankfully, saw chaps came with that kit and saved my leg a few years later.
I would still be using that same saw today had it not been stolen from a jobsite. What did I replace it with? A 385 XP. I keep a 20", 28" and 52" bar for the saw. It is the only saw that I own. It is all that I need. I don't cut on a daily basis but when I do, my cuts are fast and efficient. I prefer to spend my time in an air conditioned cab rather than running a saw. But, when I need the saw, this one never fails me.
Since my first 272, I've had a few hours running other people's Stihls. Nice saws, good performance but at the end of the day, I will chose my Husky every time.