Buy the farm/ranch series unless you're a pro

Buy the farm/ranch series unless you’re a pro.

The difference is durability, power, and how often you plan to run the thing.

Homeowner saws (Stihl MS 170–250, Husqvarna 120–450) are light and cheap. Plastic cases, less displacement, built for a few hours of cutting per year. Perfect for limb cleanup after a storm or cutting one small tree. They’re not made for sustained use—run them too hard and they overheat.