Stihl MS 291 vs Stihl MS 362 C-M

Stihl / Gas

Stihl MS 291

50cc class

~$620

4/5 Ace Hardware

Stihl / Gas

50cc class

~$1,120

The Stihl MS 291 costs about $500 less; the Stihl MS 362 C-M has more engine (59cc).

Spec	Stihl MS 291	Stihl MS 362 C-M
Approx. price	~$620with 20" bar and chain	~$1,120with 20" bar and chain
Engine class	50cc classby displacement	50cc classby displacement
Power type	Gas	Gas
Use case	Farm & Ranch	Professional
Engine	55.5 cc	59 cc
Rated power	2.8 kW	3.5 kW
Bar length	20 in	20 in
Single-pass cut	about 18 in	about 18 in
Bar range	16-20 in	16-25 in
Chain	3/8" pitch / .050" gauge (33 RM3)	3/8" pitch / .050" gauge (33 RS3)
Weight	12.3 lbpowerhead only	12.3 lbpowerhead only
Warranty	1-year consumer / 3-month professional (Stihl policy from Jan 1, 2026)	1-year consumer / 3-month professional (Stihl policy from Jan 1, 2026)

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.

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

Pro magnesium construction that's fully rebuildable — a keep-for-decades saw, unlike the clamshell farm models
M-Tronic auto-tunes for altitude, temperature, and fuel quality with no carburetor adjustments
3.5 kW from a 12.3 lb powerhead — same carry weight as an MS 271 with roughly 35% more power
Repeatedly praised on forums as the ideal size for all-day firewood cutting
HD2 filtration and spring AV system built for professional daily hours
Runs 16"-25" bars, covering everything from limbing to moderate felling

Owners report it feels underpowered with a 20" bar buried in large hardwood — the 462 gap is real
Price has climbed past $1,100, double a Farm Boss and within sight of the MS 400/462
No meaningful online retailer review aggregate — pro saws sell through dealers, so ratings are thin
Professional use carries only a 1-year warranty
At 12.3 lbs it's no lighter than the farm saws, so the upgrade is all in power and durability, not carry weight