The Javelin is Red Dragon’s longest-running entry-level tungsten set, built around an 85% tungsten barrel with ring-groove grip and a straight parallel profile. Red Dragon, founded in 1975, positions it as one of its best-selling sets for players moving up from brass or their first pub-board darts.
It comes in seven weights, all sharing the same 54.6mm barrel length, and is sold with Red Dragon’s own Hardcore flights and TRX nylon shafts in the box.
Key Specifications
The 22g version is the listing covered here, with a straight barrel and full-length ring grip.
- Material
- 85% tungsten
- Weights
- 20g, 21g, 22g, 23g, 24g, 25g, 26g (steel tip)
- Barrel length
- 54.6mm (all weights)
- Barrel diameter
- 6.15mm (20g), 6.35mm (22g), 6.5mm (24g), 6.6mm (26g)
- Grip
- Full-length ring grip
- Points
- Fixed steel, 2BA thread
- Shafts
- TRX nylon, medium (48mm)
- Flights
- Hardcore extra-thick standard, 100 micron
- Price band
- Value
How They Compare
Spec sheets mean more next to the alternatives. Here is the Javelin against three similar darts we have covered, using the figures each manufacturer publishes.
| Javelin | Flightmaster Sidewinder (opens in a new tab) | Amberjack 14 (opens in a new tab) | Winmau Ton Machine (opens in a new tab) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price band | Value | Value | Value | Value |
| Tungsten | 85% | 80% | 90% | 80% |
| Weights | 20g to 26g | 23g, 25g, 27g, 30g | 23g, 25g, 27g | 22g, 24g, 26g |
| Barrel length | 54.6mm | 43.2mm to 48.3mm | 50.8mm | 45.7mm to 50.8mm |
| Barrel diameter | 6.15mm (20g) | 8mm | 4.2 to 7.0mm (23g) | 6.6mm (22g) |
Who They Suit
| If you... | Fit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Like a light, slim dart | Good | Lightest is 20g with a 6.15mm barrel |
| Want a thick, heavy barrel | Poor | Heaviest is 26g at up to 6.6mm |
| Want grip cuts along the whole barrel | Good | Ring grip runs the full length of the barrel |
| Want a very smooth grip | Partial | No manufacturer grip rating is published |
| Prefer a short barrel | Poor | Barrel length is 54.6mm |
| Want quick-swap points | Poor | Standard points rather than a quick-swap system |
| Are working to a tight budget | Good | It sits in the Value price band |
The Javelin suits players wanting a genuine tungsten upgrade from brass or a starter set, without paying for a signature name. The long barrel and full weight range make it forgiving for players still working out their preferred setup, and the ring grip is a familiar, moderate texture rather than an aggressive pattern that takes getting used to.
If the shaft complaints are a concern, budget for a set of sturdier replacement shafts from the outset, or look at the Target Artemis, which ships with Target’s own K-Flex integrated flight and shaft option built to avoid the same failure point.
What Owners Say
The headline score is 4.4 out of 5 from 4,801 reviews. A large, consistent sample from this 22g listing. Grip and value are the two things that come up again and again in positive reviews. The main recurring complaint is the bundled TRX nylon shafts, which a number of buyers report cracking or snapping within days to weeks of regular use.
Buyers repeatedly single out the barrel’s grip and how it feels for the price, and several mention the darts flying well once they adjust to the weight. The shaft durability complaint is specific and repeated rather than a one-off: multiple separate buyers report the same failure within the first couple of weeks.
What owners consistently praise
- Grip that buyers describe as secure without being uncomfortable
- Strong value for money at the price point, repeated across many reviews
- Slim barrel profile that owners say suits an adjustment period rather than feeling wrong from the start
Common criticisms
- TRX nylon shafts reported as fragile, with several buyers seeing breakages within days to weeks
- Points are fixed rather than replaceable
- Barrel is noticeably lighter and longer than some players expect at a given weight, needing an adjustment period
The Grip: What to Expect
The manufacturer spec image bundled with this listing labels the grip a full-length ring pattern, and that matches what buyers describe: secure without feeling aggressive. One buyer specifically noted needing a short adjustment period after moving from heavier, shorter darts, since the Javelin’s length and grip make it easier to release earlier than expected.
The shaft complaints are worth weighing against the barrel itself. Several buyers who had shaft problems still called the barrel the best part of the set, and swapping to a sturdier aftermarket shaft (as one buyer did with an integrated system) sidesteps the issue entirely.
The Consensus
Buyer reviews for this listing are consistently positive on grip and value across a large sample, and the barrel itself draws little criticism. The one thing worth knowing before you buy is that the bundled TRX shafts are the weak point reported most often, not the barrel. Budgeting for a spare set of shafts, or swapping to sturdier ones from day one, addresses the only recurring issue in an otherwise well-reviewed set.
How we compile this page
We don’t throw every dart ourselves. Instead we gather the manufacturer’s published specifications and weigh up the reception from owners and independent reviewers, then flag where they disagree so you can make up your own mind. Where a headline rating comes from manufacturer-hosted reviews, we say so, because those tend to skew positive.