# MS 271 Farm Boss vs CS-400: specs and price compared

A sourced, side-by-side comparison of the MS 271 Farm Boss (Stihl) and CS-400 (Echo) among chainsaws.

## Side by side

| Spec | MS 271 Farm Boss | CS-400 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| US price | $529.99 | not published |
| Brand | Stihl | Echo |
| Power source | gas | gas |
| Bar length (in) | 18 | 18 |
| Engine cc or voltage | 50.2 cc | 40.2 cc |
| Weight (lb) | 12.3 | 10.1 |
| Anti vibration | Yes | Yes |
| Tool less chain tensioning | Yes | Yes |
| Automatic oiler | Yes | Yes |

## Key differences

- Engine cc or voltage: MS 271 Farm Boss 50.2 cc vs CS-400 40.2 cc
- Weight (lb): MS 271 Farm Boss 12.3 vs CS-400 10.1

## What reviewers say

**MS 271 Farm Boss** — One whitelisted tester covers this exact model: Pro Tool Reviews names the Stihl MS 271 Farm Boss its Best for Firewood Stihl pick in a July 2024 buying guide. It is a qualitative recommendation praising the workhorse value and improved air filtration, with no independent lab measurements reported for this model. (1 sourced review.)

**CS-400** — Only one whitelisted tester, Pro Tool Reviews, published a genuine hands-on field test of the exact Echo CS-400 18-inch; other coverage (Consumer Reports, enthusiast blogs) fell off-whitelist and was excluded. Two professional tree-trimmers rated performance 9/10, praising the tool's perfect balance, easy two-pull i-30 starting and butter-smooth cutting through a palm stump, decking and small trees. The flags are loud ~107 dB full-throttle operation that demands hearing protection, a Value score of only 7/10 on price, and the tester's own caveat that long-term reliability was not assessed. (1 sourced review.)

## Sources

- MS 271 Farm Boss: https://www.stihlusa.com/en/p/chainsaws-ms-271-gasoline-chainsaw-1027150 (stihlusa.com, verified 2026-06-19)
- CS-400: https://www.echo-usa.com/getattachment/07628055-6ed6-492b-9057-0bce6550dbed/CS-400es_1112_120913.pdf (echo-usa.com, verified 2026-06-19)

Canonical: https://frontdeskreview.com/gear/chainsaws/stihl-ms-271-farm-boss-vs-echo-cs-400/
Cite: Per The Front Desk Review, MS 271 Farm Boss ($529.99) vs CS-400 (not published) — sourced spec-by-spec comparison at https://frontdeskreview.com/gear/chainsaws/stihl-ms-271-farm-boss-vs-echo-cs-400/
License: CC BY 4.0.