If you are looking for darts, you will quickly come across two materials: brass and tungsten. At first glance they look like two kinds of metal, but they determine how thick the barrel is, how the dart sits in your hand and what you can do with it. In this guide you will read what the difference is and which choice suits your situation.
What is brass?
Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc. It is a relatively light metal, so a brass barrel needs quite a lot of volume to reach a common dart weight. That is why brass darts are usually thick and short. They are often affordable and are also less likely to get damaged if a dart falls off the board or hits another dart.
You find brass in many entry-level models and practice darts, for example the Bull's Thriller Black Brass 24g Steeltip, the Bull's Charge Yellow Brass Steeltip and the Unicorn Callan Rydz Brass.
What is tungsten?
Tungsten is a much heavier metal than brass. For darts it is mixed with other metals into an alloy, and the number on the packaging (60%, 80%, 90%, 95%) indicates the tungsten share. Because tungsten is so dense, a barrel can be much thinner at the same weight. That gives you more room on the board: your darts get in each other's way less easily.
Within tungsten there are big differences between the percentages. For comparison: the Bull's Direct Tungsten CP Steeltip 60% is the lightest entry point, the Kim Huybrechts 80% Tungsten sits in the middle and the Bull's Bronzo Flux CP Steeltip 90% is a slimmer model for those who want more.
Brass and tungsten side by side
| Property | Brass | Tungsten |
|---|---|---|
| Thickness of the barrel | Thick, at the same weight | Thinner; the higher the percentage, the slimmer |
| Grouping | Darts touch each other more easily | More room for a tight group |
| Price level | Usually lower | Usually higher, often rising with the percentage |
| Typical use | Beginners, practice, children | Regular and advanced players |
What does thickness do to your throw?
A thick barrel has more surface area, so your grip feels different and the centre of gravity is often in a different place. Some players actually like that because the dart gives a bit more hold. The downside is on the board: if you want to throw three darts into the triple 20, a thick dart quickly blocks the spot for the next one. With thinner tungsten darts that is less of a problem.
Nickel and other materials
Besides brass and tungsten you also come across nickel-coated or nickel silver barrels. A name like "nickel silver" usually means an alloy without real silver, so not tungsten. You see them in models such as the Bull's Tank Nickel Silver 20 gram. The density difference with tungsten remains: here too the barrel is usually thicker.
Which one do you choose?
Choose brass if you are just starting, are not sure yet whether darts will become your hobby, or want a second set for travelling or for children. A brass set is a great way to discover how heavy you want to throw and which shape you like. If you throw a few times a week, or are working on better grouping, it usually pays to move to tungsten. Start at 80% and see whether you want a thinner barrel.
The weight you need is separate from the material. You can read more about it in which weight of darts to choose. If you are still at the very beginning, also read which darts to choose as a beginner.
Softtip or steeltip?
Material and tip type are two separate choices. Brass and tungsten both exist in steeltip and softtip. On a sisal board you throw with steeltip darts, on an electronic board with softtip darts. For beginners the dart sets are also handy, because you can start right away with flights and shafts.
How to test the difference
The quickest way to feel it is to throw two sets of the same weight side by side, one of brass and one of tungsten. Pay attention to how the dart sits in your fingers, where your grip falls naturally and whether your darts touch each other on the board. Throw at least a few sessions before drawing conclusions, because your hand needs time to get used to a new shape.
In short
- Brass is light, thick and usually cheaper: good for starting.
- Tungsten is heavy, so the barrel can be thin: great for precise grouping.
- The tungsten percentage says something about thickness, not about the quality of your throw.
- Test first and only upgrade when you notice the thickness holds you back.