Stihl MS 391
A farm-class Stihl built for years of firewood duty, freshly validated by Popular Mechanics' 2026 testing, with the category's best dealer support behind it.
Consolidated from 2 cited sources at one outlet - limited coverage
See the sources1 of 6 research runs entered this as a product to avoid rather than a pick.
Unbelievably poor construction designed to intentionally fall apart; owners report failure after three years of seasonal use, indicating a short lifespan.
Flagged 23 September 2026
Pros & cons
- ✓ Farm-and-ranch class workhorse with a long track record in firewood duty
- ✓ Backed by Stihl's dealer network, the best support story in the category
- ✓ Performed well in fresh 2026 testing for bigger trees
- ✓ Strong cutting performance on big trees
- ✓ Featured in Popular Mechanics guide
- ✗ Premature failure after a few years of seasonal use
The sources behind this ranking
We searched the web and YouTube for what has been published about this product, then read the articles, video transcripts and comments we found.
2 positive sources
Popular Mechanics Bradley Ford · reviewer · Feb 2026 I settled on Stihl’s MS 391 gas chainsaw, which is the brand’s least expensive model available with a 25-inch bar. It features a 64 cc gas engine with 4.5 horsepower, which is significantly more than you get with most 18- to 20-inch saws. Having the bar tip visible on the other side of the tree made dropping it easier because I could see exactly where I was cutting. Meanwhile, the increased power meant I could cut faster and deeper without the saw bogging down.Read P
Popular Mechanics Tony Carrick · reviewer · Jul 2024 Editor’s Note, April 2026: We recently tested two new saws for bigger trees, the Stihl MS 391 and the Husqvarna 460 Rancher . And they performed well enough that we now recommend them as the most powerful farm and ranch saw and the best value farm and ranch saw, respectively.Read
Frequently asked questions
It ranks #8 of 13 on our chainsaws tier list, in B tier. That placement draws on 2 cited sources from a single outlet.
Premature failure after a few years of seasonal use.
Ranked nearby in Chainsaws
S tier #3 Husqvarna Power Axe 350i
A tier #4 Echo CS-3410
A tier #5 Stihl MS 182 C-BE
B tier #6 1 of 12 research runs entered this as a product to avoid rather than a pick. DeWalt DCCS670T1
B tier #7 Husqvarna 460 Rancher
C tier #9 Oregon CS1500
D tier #10 1 of 2 research runs entered this as a product to avoid rather than a pick. Husqvarna 455 Rancher
D tier #11 Ego Power+ CS1613
F tier #12 Stihl MSA 80
F tier #13 6 of 7 research runs entered this as a product to avoid rather than a pick.