Stihl / Battery
~$400
Stihl MSA 160 C-B
30cc class (by bar)
- 36V
- pack
- 12 in
- bar
- 6.8 lb
- bare
Owners who already have Stihl AP batteries from a trimmer or blower and want a light, quiet 12-inch saw to share them with.
Homeowner
Stihl's answer when the MSA 140 C-B was dropped, and the sweet spot of the AK homeowner range: the same 6.4 lb powerhead as the MSA 60 with 1.1 kW instead of 0.9, sold as a $400 set with the larger AK 30 pack and the AL 101 charger. The AK 30 is where the money goes — it is good for about 45 minutes of cutting, and reviewers consistently rate this the best balance in Stihl's battery lineup rather than the cheapest or the most powerful. The rubberized rear handle and 83 dB(A) at the operator's ear are the two things owners mention first; you can run it on a Sunday morning without annoying a neighbourhood. Same ceiling as the rest of the AK saws, though: 12-inch bar, 1/4" fine-pitch chain, and bucking anything over about 10 inches eats the pack fast.
Best for: Homeowners who want one quiet saw for pruning, storm cleanup and occasional firewood rounds and will not be felling anything substantial.
Specifications
Manufacturer figures except the engine class and single-pass cut, which are derived here. What each spec means
- 1.1 kW at 9.3 lb kitted
- 45 min on the AK 30
- Replaced the dropped MSA 140 C-B
What owners like
- 1.1 kW for the same 6.4 lb powerhead as the MSA 60 — the better of the two AK saws for $50 more
- About 45 minutes of cutting on the AK 30 pack included in the set
- 83 dB(A) at the ear and low vibration — usable early morning without hearing protection arguments
- Toolless side chain tensioning and Ematic oiling, which cuts bar-oil use roughly in half
- Set price includes battery and charger, and the AK 30 runs Stihl's other homeowner tools
Common complaints
- 12-inch bar and fine-pitch chain cap it around 10-inch wood
- Runtime drops sharply when bucking rather than pruning
- $400 is MSA 160 C-B money, and the 160 is a stronger saw on the pro AP platform (battery extra)
- AK packs do not fit AP tools, so moving up later means new batteries
Nearest alternatives
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