Gas Chainsaw 2023 Test: Which Brand Wins?
In our 2023 test we compared 8 gas chainsaw options head to head. Stihl MS 250 came out on top. See the measured results, the runner-up, the budget pick, and a link to the full test video.
Stihl MS 250
Price shown in test: $400, most expensive brand tested
Affiliate link. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Salem Master Pro
Price shown in test: $140, least expensive brand tested
Affiliate link. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Salem Master Pro
Price shown in test: $140, least expensive brand tested
Affiliate link. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
The quick take
The short version of why each pick lands where it does, built straight from the measured results.
“when it comes to chainsaws, my philosophy is buy once and cry once, and for that reason, I really like the Stihl”
Best in 1 of 11 measurements, including Torque Dyno (lb).
Placed top three in 3 of 11 measurements.
Placed top three in 3 of 11 measurements.
The measured results
Every number below is read straight from the test. Products are listed in the order they finished.
Softwood Cut 9 4 X 4 S Best (sec)
- 1Stihl MS 2509.73sec
(individual passes described as under 10 seconds, just over 10 seconds, and just under 11 seconds), fastest of the lineup
- 2Salem Master Pro12.82sec2nd
(passes: 14.14, 13.68, 12.82), second fastest overall behind the Stihl
- 3Husqvarna 44013.63sec3rd
(passes: 16.8, 13.95, 13.63), third fastest overall behind the Stihl and battery-powered Echo comparison
- 4Echo CS-400 (gas)15.92sec
(passes: 15.92, 17.28, 16.48)
- 5Craftsman20.79sec2nd
(passes: 23.48, 21.09, 20.79), moved into second place behind the Salem Master at the time it was tested, before the Husqvarna, Echo, and Stihl were run
- 6Ryobi21.65sec
(passes: 26.58, 22.67, 21.65), described as underpowered and quick to bog down with a small amount of force
- 7Poulan Pro21.91sec
(passes: 29.5, 23.08, 21.91), described as really struggling and underpowered for a 10-in board, consistently 9 to 10 seconds slower than the Salem Master
- 8Echo battery-powered (bonus cross-comparison, prior video's winner)13.99sec
(passes: 13.99, 14.85, 14.14)
Hardwood Cut Best (sec)
- 1Stihl MS 25016.9sec
(passes: 18, 16.9, 17.1), by far the fastest of the lineup
- 2Salem Master Pro30.12sec
(passes: 32.1, 30.12, just over 34)
- 3Husqvarna 44024.25sec2nd
(passes: 27.03, 24.25, 24.7), about 7.5 seconds slower than the Stihl, second fastest
- 4Echo CS-400 (gas)27.3sec
(passes: 28.9, 28.7, 27.3), performed about the same as its battery-powered counterpart at just over 27 seconds
- 5Craftsman38.5sec
(passes: 41, 38.5, 38.8)
- 6Ryobi35.15sec
(passes: 38.45, 35.15, 36.73)
- 7Poulan Pro39.5sec
(passes: 50.1, 42.6, 39.5), described as really slow and underpowered from the start
- 8Echo battery-powered (bonus cross-comparison, prior video's winner)27.6sec
(passes: 28.9, 27.6, 29.8), performed about the same as the gas-powered Echo at just over 27 seconds
Made In
- 1Stihl MS 250
Germany
- 2Salem Master Pro
China
- 3Husqvarna 440
reviewer was unable to locate any information on where this saw was manufactured
- 4Echo CS-400 (gas)
assembled in USA
- 5Craftsman
Mexico
- 6Ryobi
Vietnam
- 7Poulan Pro
not stated in the transcript
- 8Echo battery-powered (bonus cross-comparison, prior video's winner)not tested
Engine (cc)
- 1Stihl MS 25045.6cc
- 2Salem Master Pro58cc
the largest displacement in the lineup
- 3Husqvarna 44040.9cc
- 4Echo CS-400 (gas)40.2cc
- 5Craftsman42cc
- 6Ryobi38cc
the smallest displacement in the lineup
- 7Poulan Pro42cc
- 8Echo battery-powered (bonus cross-comparison, prior video's winner)not tested
Weight (lb)
- 1Stihl MS 25012.5lb
- 2Salem Master Pro14.53lb
(without fuel or oil)
- 3Husqvarna 44011.92lb
almost as light as the Ryobi
- 4Echo CS-400 (gas)12.04lb
- 5Craftsman12.93lb
- 6Ryobi11.78lb
the lightest saw tested
- 7Poulan Pro14.32lb
- 8Echo battery-powered (bonus cross-comparison, prior video's winner)not tested
Starter Pulls Room Temp
- 1Stihl MS 2507
- 2Salem Master Pro7
- 3Husqvarna 4406
(reviewer pulled 5 times per the instructions but the engine started on the sixth pull)
- 4Echo CS-400 (gas)4
- 5Craftsman4
the same as the Poulan Pro
- 6Ryobi6
- 7Poulan Pro4
the same as the Craftsman
- 8Echo battery-powered (bonus cross-comparison, prior video's winner)not tested
Noise (dB)
- 1Stihl MS 250112.3dB
the loudest of the lineup
- 2Salem Master Pro108dB
- 3Husqvarna 440110.1dB
the loudest yet at the time it was tested
- 4Echo CS-400 (gas)105.7dB
the quietest of the lineup
- 5Craftsman106.7dB
about the same as the Poulan Pro
- 6Ryobi106.8dB
almost the same as the Craftsman
- 7Poulan Pro106dB
a little quieter than the Salem Master
- 8Echo battery-powered (bonus cross-comparison, prior video's winner)not tested
No Load (rpm)
- 1Stihl MS 25014,800rpm
by far the highest revving saw
- 2Salem Master Proapproximately10,800rpm
- 3Husqvarna 440just over13,000rpm
the fastest at the time it was tested
- 4Echo CS-400 (gas)close to11,500rpm
- 5Craftsman
very close to 12,000, the fastest at the time it was tested
- 6Ryobialmost13,000rpm
the most at the time it was tested
- 7Poulan Proalmost11,300rpm
- 8Echo battery-powered (bonus cross-comparison, prior video's winner)not tested
All measurements (4 more)+
Torque Dyno (lb)
- 1Stihl MS 25037lb
a total beast, best of the lineup
- 2Salem Master Pro25lb3rd
third place behind the Stihl and Echo
- 3Husqvarna 44024lb
tied with the Poulan Pro and Craftsman
- 4Echo CS-400 (gas)27lb2nd
second place behind only the Stihl, outperforming the larger 58cc Salem Master
- 5Craftsman24lb
matched the Poulan Pro
- 6Ryobi19lb
gave up sooner than the rest of the lineup, the weakest torque result
- 7Poulan Pro24lb
almost as well as the Salem Master
- 8Echo battery-powered (bonus cross-comparison, prior video's winner)not tested
Weighted Cut 5 Lb Added (sec)
- 1Stihl MS 25012.67sec
fastest of the lineup
- 2Salem Master Pro16.38sec2nd
described as 'a distant second' behind the Stihl
- 3Husqvarna 44017.2sec3rd
almost as fast as the Salem Master
- 4Echo CS-400 (gas)19.47sec3rd
third fastest cut in this round per the transcript's ordering
- 5Craftsman25.5sec
performed better than the Poulan Pro but still struggled to maintain chain speed
- 6Ryobi22.82sec2nd
its lighter weight helped it post the second fastest cut in this round per the transcript's ordering
- 7Poulan Pro28.3sec
struggled to maintain chain speed without stalling
- 8Echo battery-powered (bonus cross-comparison, prior video's winner)not tested
Cold Start 15 (°F)
- 1Stihl MS 250
up and going on the fifth pull, though the reviewer notes it 'almost came to life on the second pull' and could probably have started on the third if the choke had been positioned correctly
- 2Salem Master Pro
fired up on the third attempt, described as 'not bad for a budget saw'
- 3Husqvarna 440
up and going on the fifth attempt, not seeming too bothered by the cold
- 4Echo CS-400 (gas)
ready for action quickly, started in 3 pulls, same as the Salem Master
- 5Craftsman
up and running on the fifth attempt, almost started on the third pull
- 6Ryobi5 pulls
described as pretty easy to start in cold temperature
- 7Poulan Pro16 pulls
described as not as motivated as the Salem Master to get going
- 8Echo battery-powered (bonus cross-comparison, prior video's winner)not tested
Starting Force Peak
- 1Stihl MS 25021 kg
or about 47 lb, the most force required to start of any saw tested
- 2Salem Master Pro14 kg
or almost 31 lb
- 3Husqvarna 44016.5 kg
or 36.3 lb, about the same as the Ryobi
- 4Echo CS-400 (gas)15 kg
or about 33 lb, very similar to the Salem Master and Craftsman
- 5Craftsmanjust over14 kg
or around 31 lb, about the same as the Salem Master
- 6Ryobi17 kg
or about 37.5 lb, a little more stubborn to start than the others despite its smaller engine
- 7Poulan Pro7.5 kg
or about 16.5 lb, by far the least starting force required of any saw tested
- 8Echo battery-powered (bonus cross-comparison, prior video's winner)not tested
How it was tested
- engine torque via a dyno-style tester measuring downward force in lb needed to stop the chain
- no-load sprocket speed (RPM)
- noise level at 24 in from the saw (decibels)
- cutting speed through nine 4x4s (3 timed passes per saw)
- cutting speed making one cut with 5 lb of added weight on the bar
- cutting speed through a cured hedge apple hardwood log (3 timed passes per saw)
- cold-temperature starting performance at 15 degrees Fahrenheit (number of pulls/attempts)
- peak pull force required to start the engine (measured over three back-to-back pulls with a push-pull meter)
- weight of each saw
“when it comes to chainsaws, my philosophy is buy once and cry once, and for that reason, I really like the Stihl”
