The Amberjack has been one of Red Dragon’s staples for four decades, which is rare longevity for a barrel design and usually a sign it does the job. The Amberjack 14 is the current 90% tungsten version: a centre-weighted torpedo barrel with a tapered nose and a full-length dual-groove grip, sold in 23g, 25g, and 27g.
We haven’t thrown these ourselves, so rather than a hands-on verdict this page gathers the manufacturer’s published specs and rounds up what owners and independent reviewers actually make of them.
Key Specifications
The 25g sits in the middle of the range. It uses a long torpedo profile with a thin front taper and central weight distribution, finished in the painted black and orange the line is known for.
- Material
- 90% tungsten with a painted black and orange finish
- Weights
- 23g, 25g, 27g (steel tip)
- Barrel length
- 50.8mm (all weights)
- Barrel diameter
- 4.2 to 7.0mm (23g), 4.4 to 7.2mm (25g), 4.4 to 7.4mm (27g)
- Profile
- Torpedo, centre-weighted with a tapered nose
- Grip
- Full-length dual-groove pattern (ring and knurled), rated 4 of 5 by Red Dragon
- Points
- Black high tensile, 2BA thread
- Shafts
- Medium VRX polycarbonate
- Flights
- Hardcore extra-thick standard
- Typical price
- £31–£35 (RRP £34.99)
How They’ve Been Received
Owners keep coming back to two things: how smoothly the barrel flies and how much dart you get for the money. The one criticism that recurs is grip. Several buyers and an independent reviewer reckon the texture sits below the level 4 spec, closer to a 3.
What Reviewers Say
Buyer feedback is broadly warm, and the value comes up more than anything else. One verified buyer summed it up:
“Great dart for the money, looks good and available in the relatively rare 27gram weight.”
An independent reviewer who took the 25g apart rated the shape and flight highly but held back on the grip, which is the same thing owners flag:
“Those seven Fjord grooves provide a mediocre amount of grip.”
What owners consistently praise
- Genuine 90% tungsten at a budget price, widely rated good value
- Centre-weighted torpedo barrel that owners say flies smoothly and consistently
- Hardcore flights and VRX shafts in the box, decent kit for the money
Common criticisms
- Grip comes across milder than the 4 of 5 rating, per both buyers and an independent reviewer
- Only three weights (23g, 25g and 27g), nothing lighter or in between
- Painted finish rather than a hard coating, so it can mark with heavy use
The Grip: What to Expect
This is where the sources part company. Red Dragon lists a full-length dual-groove pattern rated 4 of 5, towards the grippier end of their scale. Owners and independent reviewers usually find it gentler: one buyer put it at 3 of 5, and a reviewer who measured the barrel called the texture mediocre.
Expect a moderate hold in real use rather than an aggressive one. The full-length coverage means front and mid-barrel grippers both have something to hold, so it is forgiving if you are still settling on a hand position. If you rely on sharp texture to lock your fingers, handle a set first or look at something more aggressive.
Who They Suit
These suit players stepping up from brass or low-percentage tungsten who want a proper 90% barrel without paying signature prices. The centre-weighted torpedo profile rewards a steady, repeatable throw, and the 27g option is handy if you like a heavier dart, since plenty of ranges stop at 26g.
If you want more bite in the grip, the higher-tungsten Winmau Ton Machine goes the other way with a smoother release, so it is not the answer there. Players after a proven signature barrel with a stronger grip should look at Red Dragon’s own Gerwyn Price Blue Originals, which cost roughly twice as much.
The Consensus
Four decades in, the Amberjack 14 still earns its keep as a value pick. Owners rate the balance and the flight, and the manufacturer’s own reviews sit at 4.7 out of 5, though those skew positive by nature. The things to weigh up are a grip that reads lighter than the spec and a range that stops at three weights. If you want honest 90% tungsten for around thirty quid, the feedback says it delivers.
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.