Stihl MS 271 Farm Boss vs Husqvarna 455 Rancher
Quick take: The Stihl MS 271 Farm Boss costs $49 less; the Husqvarna 455 Rancher has more engine (55.5cc); the Stihl MS 271 Farm Boss is lighter at 12.3 lb.
| Spec | Stihl MS 271 Farm Boss | Husqvarna 455 Rancher |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $540 | $589 |
| Rating | 4.5★ (2,856) | 4.6★ (699) |
| Power Type | Gas | Gas |
| Use Case | Farm & Ranch | Farm & Ranch |
| Engine | 50.2 cc | 55.5 cc |
| Rated Power | 2.6 kW | 2.6 kW |
| Voltage | — | — |
| Kit Battery | — | — |
| Bar Length | 20" | 20" |
| Bar Range | 16-20" | 13-24" |
| Chain | .325" pitch / .063" gauge (26 RM3) | 3/8" pitch / .050" gauge |
| Weight | 12.3 lb (powerhead only) | 13.2 lb (powerhead only) |
| Warranty | 2-year consumer (1-year commercial) | 2-year consumer (extendable to 4 with fuel registration) |
Pros & cons
Stihl MS 271 Farm Boss
- ✓Proven all-rounder for felling and firewood — 50.2cc comfortably runs 16"-20" bars
- ✓Advanced anti-vibration mounts noticeably reduce fatigue; a top owner-praised feature after long cutting days
- ✓Fuel-efficient engine runs 20% longer between refills than the MS 270 it replaced
- ✓Pre-separation air filtration stretches filter cleaning intervals in dirty wood
- ✓4.5-star average across 2,856 Ace Hardware reviews — one of the biggest verified track records of any farm saw
- ✓$539.99 is roughly half the cost of Stihl's pro 50cc-class saws
- ✗Heavy for its output — 12.3 lbs powerhead for 2.6 kW; pro saws make more power at less weight
- ✗Clamshell engine construction: pros consider it a throwaway design rather than a rebuildable saw
- ✗Little aftermarket parts support and expensive OEM top-end parts if it does wear out
- ✗Noticeably slower in big hardwood than an MS 261/362 despite similar displacement
- ✗Scattered owner reports of fussy chain-brake behavior and denied warranty claims
Husqvarna 455 Rancher
- ✓Two decades of proven reliability — the definition of a known quantity
- ✓4.6-star Lowe's aggregate across roughly 700 reviews
- ✓Genuinely pulls its 20-inch bar in hardwood
- ✓Parts, bars, and chains stocked everywhere from Lowe's to rural dealers
- ✓Smart Start, fuel pump, and inertia chain brake as standard
- ✓Tolerates neglect that would kill fussier saws
- ✗13.2 lb powerhead is heavy for 55cc — fatigue shows on long days
- ✗Vibration is noticeably stronger than modern pro saws
- ✗Forum consensus favors the CS-590 on value and the MS 271 on refinement
- ✗Consumer crankcase — not rebuildable pro construction
- ✗At $589 it has crept into striking distance of better saws