Stihl MS 291 vs Husqvarna 455 Rancher

Stihl MS 291

Stihl / Gas

Stihl MS 291

50cc class

~$620

4/5 Ace Hardware

See it at Stihl
Husqvarna 455 Rancher

Husqvarna / Gas

Husqvarna 455 Rancher

50cc class

~$589

4.6/5 Lowe's

Check price on Amazon

The Husqvarna 455 Rancher costs about $31 less; the Stihl MS 291 is lighter at 12.3 lb on the same basis.

SpecStihl MS 291Husqvarna 455 Rancher
Approx. price~$620with 20" bar and chain~$589with 20" bar and chain
Engine class50cc classby displacement50cc classby displacement
Power typeGasGas
Use caseFarm & RanchFarm & Ranch
Engine55.5 cc55.5 cc
Rated power2.8 kW2.6 kW
Bar length20 in20 in
Single-pass cutabout 18 inabout 18 in
Bar range16-20 in13-24 in
Chain3/8" pitch / .050" gauge (33 RM3)3/8" pitch / .050" gauge
Weight12.3 lbpowerhead only13.2 lbpowerhead only
Warranty1-year consumer / 3-month professional (Stihl policy from Jan 1, 2026)2-year consumer (extendable to 4 with fuel registration)

Tinted cells mark the better figure on that row alone: more engine, longer bar, lighter, cheaper. A lighter weight is only a win on the same basis.

What owners like and complain about

Stihl MS 291

  • 5cc and ~0.25 hp over the MS 271 at the identical 12.3 lb powerhead weight
  • Pulls a 20" bar through hardwood noticeably better than the Farm Boss
  • Pre-separation air filtration makes filters last up to five times longer in dusty cutting
  • Fuel-efficient low-emission engine with long run times per tank
  • Full 3/8" pitch chain shares consumables with Stihl's pro saws
  • Still hundreds cheaper than the MS 362 C-M for occasional heavy cutting
  • Same clamshell, non-rebuildable construction pros dismiss — just with a bigger bore
  • Essentially no aftermarket parts support, and OEM top-end parts are expensive
  • Mediocre power-to-weight: a 10.8 lb MS 261 makes more power a pound and a half lighter
  • At $619.99 it sits uncomfortably close to used pro-saw money — the perennial forum objection
  • Smaller verified review base (4.0 stars, 33 Ace reviews) than its stablemates

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
  • The chain tensioner runs out of travel on this short frame — after a few years the screw reaches its limit and the chain goes slack mid-cut, and the fix is to break a drive link out
  • A weak bar oiler is the complaint owners repeat most about the 455/460 family; one sold his saw over it
  • 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
Stihl MS 291 in fullHusqvarna 455 Rancher in fullMore matchups