Stihl
MS 271 Farm Boss
$529.99
Best Chainsaws · head-to-head
MS 271 Farm Boss vs CS-400
A sourced, side-by-side comparison. MS 271 Farm Boss is cheaper at $529.99. Every spec and price links to its source.
Echo
CS-400
—
Which is better: the MS 271 Farm Boss or CS-400?
The CS-400 wins 1 of the 1 specs we compare head to head; the other wins 0.
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Full spec sheet
✓ marks the stronger figure where "more" — or "less", for price and weight — is unambiguously better.
| Spec | MS 271 Farm Boss | CS-400 |
|---|---|---|
| US price | $529.99 | — |
| Brand | Stihl | Echo |
| Released | — | — |
| 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 |
| Release | — | — |
Sources — MS 271 Farm Boss: stihlusa.com (verified 2026-06-19). CS-400: echo-usa.com (verified 2026-06-19).
What's the difference between the MS 271 Farm Boss and CS-400?
Where the two actually differ on the specs we track (2 of 7). Matching specs are omitted.
- 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
Sourced tester consensus for each — the "what people who used it think" layer, not just specs.
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.)
Praised: Value workhorse firewood saw at just over $500 with a 20-inch bar; Improved pre-separation air filtration and half the emissions versus the older MS 270.
Flagged: Not the most powerful option; step up to a bigger saw if you need more power.
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, 1 lab-tested.)
Praised: Near-perfect balance and ergonomics with the standard 18-inch bar; Very easy starting via i-30 system, typically two quick pulls; Strong cutting power through palm stump, decking and small trees.
Flagged: Very loud at full throttle (~107 dB); hearing protection required; Long-term reliability not assessed by the tester; Priced higher by the numbers than some rivals (Value scored 7/10).