Stihl 'MSA 300 C' Electric Chainsaw (Watch this before you buy!)

I have mixed feelings on the Stihl MSA 300 as it started off well cutting through Australian ironbark timber but had limited runtime along with overheating issues. For me, it still isn't where I need it to be for serious farm work but for small to medium timber cutting jobs, it's a strong performer.

[craigparker]

Those prices are crazy for how little work it will do. I'm definitely sticking to my 2 stroke petrol engine.

[mickmick]

Old root balls are full of dirt, stones and sand. Only use your mates chainsaw to cut them.

[camsteele]

As a farmer, and living in a high timber density area a chainsaw is one of our most vital tools. 2 strokes from 62cc - 97cc and Stihl and Milwaukee battery saws. The electrics are awesome and sit in our vehicles. Very capable. Triming trees off fences, cutting fallen branches and small trees off the road when heading into town. I even grab it to get firewood. My dog cannot be around piecing soundss they trigger colapses. My left ear hearing isnt great muffs or plugs ncrease the ringing. Helping out in community care for the elderly, battery saws are awesoms for their low noise in town. I still use my 2 strokes, but the electrics well and truly have their place. When time comes I will upgrade and the new Pro models will be it....

[Andrew-]

I have used this saw now for about 3 or 4 ute loads of grey box. My first use was learning the saw, had it on high the whole time, just like yourself …big mistake!!
I only run the saw now on the second speed or 2 bars. Runs very well and doesn’t over heat, nor does it over heat the batteries, that’s one thing you never mentioned.
I have an inverter in my ute, so I can charge batteries while using another. My first time using it, I noticed it took the charger (AL500) at least 45-50 minutes to cool down the battery before it would even start to charge it.
Now running the machine on 2 bars, it only takes the chargers around 3-4 minutes to cool down the battery until it starts charging.
I honestly can say it’s now my go to saw, my 4 year old 500i can rest.
I will soon buy another battery to make it four batteries in total and that will be plenty for me. I’ve used 2 stroke and 4 stroke for decades, I used to love the fumes, now I can’t stand them, especially on still days

[jordancooper]

would have been good to see the other power modes in action and what the battery life was like using them, and if there were any over heating issues using the lower power modes

[aussiehardwood]

My 90cc Ms660 weighs like 14lb. My MS261 around 11lb. Its great inroads are being made in the battery area, I think they make more sense for small saws but just don't compete power to weight wise to larger pro saws.

[BM-wikt]

Thanks for the review. And honesty on the product.

[carbonharmonics]

Really good review considering your cutting through high density timber, especially here in Australia.. The timber is VERY hard on any saw. Good to see you put it through its paces. Better than most reviews out there cutting near next to pine.

[Oldfx]

Cheers for the review. I swing a saw almost every day and its hard to beat the Makita 36v saws up to 150mm diameter. Beyond that, my Stihl 261c screams through everything else its bar can fit.

[jimmyjones]

A MS462 pulling a 20” chain looks like it’s the same weight, and cheaper (considering extra batteries). The 462s are a beast of a saw

[jonlerpiniere]

I got the msa 260c for my SES unit and with a tungsten chain (not my money) we are having no problems with it at all. For the intermittent use it usually gets the noise and maintenance benefits make a lot of sense for us. The older members won't touch it though, they seem to mistrust anything that doesn't use internal combustion! ;)

[John-cjve]

It looks like you're doing most of your cutting with a dull chain! I noticed what looked like a lot of powder coming out the back end of your saw.
Also; I noticed how fast the saw went through the log when you first started; it quickly slowed down.

[theboyzyes]

I got the MSA 160 for my wife a couple of yrs ago and it's still going strong, gone through about 8 chains and one sprocket so far but it's so much safer for her to use that a 2 stroke...

[sirvozelo]

I have just watched your video again and see in yours the temperature light comes on, in mine it never happened so far even cutting much heavier and going through 4 or five batteries continuously.
In my case the temperature light have come on in the battery using the MSA220C cutting long ways taking boards like a milling saw.

[Achilliez]

Great review, was thinking of getting this but wasn’t sure how it went here in Australia, I’ll stick with my 462 👍🏻👍🏻

[gafaff]

I have a Makita 40V XGT 14" arborist saw, and I absolutely love it for pruning work, but if I'm cutting firewood, it's the Stihl petrol saw.

[John-cjve]

You're not alone with your battery issues. I'm in Wisconsin, and I have the two largest EGO 20" saws. The biggest one overheats the battery fairly quickly in full bar cuts. Switching out batteries doesn't help much; because the saw itself overheats pretty soon.
The 'smaller' one; (19lbs with the battery installed); I can get more work out of because the motor in the CS2005 is less demanding than the one in the CSX5007.
I am mainly a hobbyist; and I think these big saws are great fun to use; if not very practical for heavy work.
I don't know yet how they'll perform in cooler weather. I expect they will be less prone to overheating in those conditions.
Maybe I'm judging them too harshly; because I haven't used them for smaller work like you were using with the Stihl.
I have a couple of EGO CS1800s for bucking. They are much lighter.

[sirvozelo]

I have the MSA300 about 2 years and yes is a nice, joy powerful machine but at same time is like to have a Mustang GT with gas tank in the reserve. The AP500 S battery and I have 4 of those but it isn't up to the machine for professional use. Cutting oak about 45cm diameter and using the 45cm Light 04 Bar 11 or 12 cuts and the AP500 S battery is out of power.
For a day work out in the forest I with need a truck load of batteries, also the batteries are priced like gold and when you cutting continuous they got hot and then takes sometimes about 15 minutes for the charger AL500 just to cool off the battery so it can start charging back again.

[allanhov]

awesome review. I have the msa220 -c and absolutely love it. Far superior to my Husky 445 II in 9 out of 10 of my use cases. I wanted the msa300 but your review put me on other thoughts and saved me a lot of money :D

[sirvozelo]

I have the Stihl MSA300, 220C, GTA26, 161T, Trimmer 135 and the Blower BG86. The best one is the 161T because even with a smaller battery like an AP200 I have twice if not more cutting time comparing with MSA300 and using the AP500 S battery.