This is gonna be a long winded response.
The air filter is the Achilles heel of the model.
Generally, for the same given surface area, the greater the flow the lesser the filtration.
The 260 filter has more surface area and a bigger corresponding air box.
You've got a few options Jeff.
Forget anything AM for performance. They may look the same in some cases, but they are unreliable and can flow very little air. The cheap and widely available 260 compensating nylon filter is the perfect example. It flows very little air, but looks like the oem.
Metal flows the best and filters the least. I've never had an issue with fresh wood and a sharp chain. If you're cutting dry dusty wood, the oem nylon/winter filter is a good option. You'd be surprised about how a filter performs in wood vs. a piss rev. You're flowing less air while under load at less rpm. You can lose 1000 rpm piss revving and still have the same power in wood with the more restrictive better filter. To the best of my knowledge, the metal filter is only available in 026 and not 260.
The MS260 rear cover does excellent with the OEM Nylon winter filter. But oem only. I used to make my own metal filters out of AM nylon till I finally found the OEM nylon ones which flow great. The tank vent has to be the short style to use the 260 filter. If you've got the 026 with the tall thin black tank vent, you'll need to cut it down and you'll also need a 260 rear cover for your saw.
Another way to filter better is to change the airflow into the air box. Ever see the guys running big saws with the exposed filter and no rear cover at the GTG's? Ever notice they have less dust on their filters and carb area then when you pull your cover off? That's why I add Frogzskins to a lot of my builds. They're ugly sometimes, but they redirect flow/increase flow/pre filter the air coming into the air box.
So you've got a few options Jeff. I'd personally find a cheap ugly rear cover and add Frogzskins. See how the metal holds up. I'd also swap out to nylon if you know you're gonna be cutting dirty dry wood. Clean whichever filter you have after every job.
If you've got the short tank vent, you can buy a cheap AM rear cover, modify it, and add the 260 oem nylon filter (with the comp hole plugged) to the saw. I can bring one up to the CT GTG if you wanna play.
