You will certainly appreciate the weight reduction. Would you be cutting large rounds or do you want the extra length for limbing. I find a light saw like the 260 a little nose heavy with a 20",it is nicely balanced with the 18".

If you need to bury the bar or cut hardwoods, I'd recommend a 16". Mine just does not do as well with an 18" on it. Pines and softer woods will probably be okay with an 18 on it.

20" is just too long for the 260. If you "need" 20" then get the 361.

The 260's sweet spot is 16" but you can do 18" if you really want to.

Appreciate it! Stihl recommends 16" - 20" so I guess 18" is right there in the middle. I've got a 390 w/ 20" for larger logs. Sounds like what I'll do is sell the 290 w/ 18" on it and get the 260 Pro w/ an 18". This will still give me a nice diverse selection of saws. Thanks again!

I purchased a MS 260 today with a 16" bar. The store manager strongly discouraged using a 20" bar on it and also stated an 18" bar was not too great either. He said the 16" bar was the best to use on this model. Just FYI,...