Stihl MS 661 C-M Magnum vs Stihl MS 881 Magnum
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 661 C-M Magnum
- M-Tronic auto-tuning means no carb screws — it compensates for altitude, temperature, and fuel quality on its own
- 16.4 lb powerhead carrying 7.2 hp is excellent power-to-weight for a 90cc saw
- Buries a 28-32 inch bar in hardwood without bogging — the go-to powerhead for Alaskan mills
- 20% better fuel economy than the old MS 660 it replaced
- Decade-plus of forum history with a reputation for surviving years of commercial abuse
- Every Stihl dealer can service it, and the parts network is unmatched
- Roughly $1,850 before tax — the price has climbed several hundred dollars in a few years
- Overkill for most users; MS 462 owners rightly point out theirs is 3 lbs lighter for 90% of the work
- Thirsty in sustained cuts — milling users report burning through tanks quickly
- Stihl gas-saw warranty is only 1 year consumer / 3 months commercial unless you buy the oil promo
- Dealer-only sales, so pricing varies by region and there are no retailer reviews to compare
Stihl MS 881 Magnum
- Highest displacement and power of any production saw sold new — 121.6cc / 8.6 hp
- Torque delivery that holds chain speed with a 36-inch bar fully buried, which is why milling forums default to it
- Rated for guide bars up to 41 inches — handles wood nothing else in the catalog can
- HD2 filtration and heavy-duty build made for hours-long milling sessions
- Simple carbureted two-stroke — no engine electronics to fail, and any saw shop can rebuild it
- 21.4 lb powerhead — closer to 30 lbs run-ready with a long bar, brutal for anything but bucking and milling
- Around $2,680, typically before adding the long bar and ripping chain most buyers want it for
- No M-Tronic — the IntelliCarb still needs manual tuning, and owners report a fussy cold-start routine
- Modest chain speed makes it feel sluggish in small wood; total overkill under 30-inch timber
- 1-year consumer / 3-month commercial warranty is thin for a $2,700 professional tool