Target Stephen Bunting Gen 2 12g darts review

[Getagrip]

Video link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_9HiuQXQ2k


I reviewed the Gen 1 darts in 23g which was a weight more suitable for me but I was quite keen to try the Gen 2 in Stephen Buntings usual weight of 12g to get a feel of what he is actually throwing and how on earth he can throw them so well at such a light weight!

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The new Bunting Bullet Gen 2 dart has a new and fancy looking grip called Ellipse grip. They are available in 12, 21 and 23 grams and are 90% tungsten with the Ellipse grip having a nice gold nitride coating. The darts retail around £48, you can find more info here: Bunting Bullet Gen 2 darts

CONTENTS AND PACKAGING:

The darts come in a slim box and are already assembled inside a foam insert fitted with Target red and gold Pro Grip shafts and Stephen Bunting "Bullet" flights, the points are also Gold Nitride coated.

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PICS OF THE DARTS IN DETAIL:

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CLOSE UPS:

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The darts are really quite dinky at this weight but I do like the look of the gold Ellipse grip, looks like some kind of animal pattern in some of the pics like a snake or something Guests cannot see images in the messages. Please register at the forum by clicking here to see images. The grip itself is only a medium level of grip but I think after I played a while and the barrels warmed up it felt a little stickier to my grip but overall its more a curious subtle feeling.

DIMENSIONS:

Length:

A rather short barrel really Guests cannot see images in the messages. Please register at the forum by clicking here to see images.

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Width:

Barrel is widest at the front and has a slight taper so thins out towards the shaft.

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Dimensions in detail:

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WEIGHT:

Two barrels were perfectly matched and the third was just six hundredths of a gram lighter:

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Weight of the full set up as supplied:

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BALANCE:

With nothing attached the balance was just a little front of centre:

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With the supplied set up it moved just past centre towards the rear:

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Balance with my own medium, short and extra short nylon stems and standard flights:

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MY GRIP WITH THESE DARTS:

I tried a few placements of grip, was very happy with my front grip but it felt just as comfy holding in the centre and flew quite well from there too, but my thumb is more than half the width of this short barrel so it was not a big deal whether I gripped close to the front or nearer to the centre Guests cannot see images in the messages. Please register at the forum by clicking here to see images.

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Darts landed in the board in a nice tail up angle:

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CONCLUSION:

Well its a difficult one to decide on these darts mainly because the one overriding factor that is affecting my decision is the very light weight!

It felt like I was almost throwing nothing, it was strange throwing these with them been so light. However in spite of that I kind of did ok and they were quite well behaved for the most part, I just got a little squirriling through the air at times, I think its down to the lack of a smooth release on my part though.

What I did notice though is that after doing the video review and playing with the darts for longer I was beginning to learn how to make them fly better for me. I got a few 120+ scores and even a 140 which was a surprise but the darts only worked best when I concentrated on making my throw smooth as possible. I think its true when they say heavier darts are more forgiving of inconsistencies in your throw, I kind of proved that to myself playing with these. In that respect I think it could be a good training aid trying to tame a light set of darts like these Guests cannot see images in the messages. Please register at the forum by clicking here to see images.

Of course it still depends how you throw, I have a fairly slow throw so any jerks or miscues would throw the dart off kilter by some margin, I think the heavier darts would likely work best for me because of that. I even tried to replicate Stephen Buntings strange power flick style of throw, no chance, lol no idea how he throws them so well!!!

I think if you power in such a light dart then there is less time for it to be affected by a miscue but I cant throw like that. But it was a nice feeling when they did go in well when I had my throw right and smooth, it was very rewarding in that regard Guests cannot see images in the messages. Please register at the forum by clicking here to see images.

I think ultimately though I need to try the 23g model and I am keen to do so. The darts look good and the Ellipse grip is kind of nice but not overly grippy. One thing I did seem to notice a lot though was that even though the stems are nylon they seemed to work loose a lot, a bit strange?

I think the dart was nicely balanced overall, just too light but if you are not shy of using a light weight dart then you will probably like the feel of these but I think it may be best for front and centre grippers Guests cannot see images in the messages. Please register at the forum by clicking here to see images.

Hopefully I will update this review when I get some 23g and just do an edit with additional comments Guests cannot see images in the messages. Please register at the forum by clicking here to see images.

Summary Ratings:

Looks: 8 (I like gold Guests cannot see images in the messages. Please register at the forum by clicking here to see images. )
Grip: 6 (on a 1 to 10 Scale, 10 been severe grip)
Weight match: 8.5 (close)
Quality: 8 (quality seems fine)
Value: 7 (not too bad for such a heavily machined dart with gold ti)
Suitability for me: 6 (this model is just too light)

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[pilmat]

Great review!

You have answered a couple of questions I have been trying to grasp.
-First is what is all this about "practice darts" that I see. They are typically super light and I see by your experience that they are intended to help you understand your stroke, highlighting its problems as the dart will go astray at the slightest miscue.
-Second is a finding I'm having with the 14g Bunting Gen 1 soft tips, I use a lot more wrist and follow through with them. Your analysis of Stephen's stroke seems to confirm that technique has merit with these light darts.

Thanks for the clarity! +1

[Getagrip]

Thanks Phil Guests cannot see images in the messages. Please register at the forum by clicking here to see images.

[jc14]

Great review as ever.
Not sure I'd like them but they are unusual and unique looking.
Like the look of those points!

Also I use the pro grip stems a fair bit and I've had the odd one come loose in a set a couple of times. The vision ones and One80 pro plast are a much better fit IMO.

[0ldjoblo]

Excellent review and even better pics ,,,,,

[Shanesaw]

Another awesome review and amazing pics Guests cannot see images in the messages. Please register at the forum by clicking here to see images.

[Getagrip]

Thanks everyone! Guests cannot see images in the messages. Please register at the forum by clicking here to see images.

[Miek]

Great review Guests cannot see images in the messages. Please register at the forum by clicking here to see images.

I love these darts, my new favorite.

When I started throwing darts I used darts weighing around 25g, but then I got the opportunity to try the gen 1 Bunting 12g darts and for my style of throwing they felt perfect so I guess the throwing style is important for light darts.

Michael

[Getagrip]

Thanks Miek, I will get some 23g soon and give them a good try too Guests cannot see images in the messages. Please register at the forum by clicking here to see images.

[Babe180]

Great review, again!
And fantastic looking darts!Those close pics!
Jewelry! Like small spears of a king in the antiquity!
Target made a good job,again.

Interesting what you all say about the technique, (that lighter darts require more perfection in the throw).
I used to think that this is also true with heavier darts.If I make a mistake in the movement, the bigger weight drives the dart further away from my target.

Anyway, I must try these, or at least the Hankey's..

[Jugger]

I think they look excellent!

I will try them someday for sure!

[Banned]

For your reviews I know you keep things stock but if you tried those again with smaller flights I think you'd find it's much easier to throw them. I tried throwing them with standard flights and they went everywhere. I have no idea how Bunting does it.

[pilmat]

For your reviews I know you keep things stock but if you tried those again with smaller flights I think you'd find it's much easier to throw them. I tried throwing them with standard flights and they went everywhere. I have no idea how Bunting does it.

Agreed. I put teardrops on the 14g soft tip Gen 1 as the standards were overkill. These might even like the tiny Sigma flights.

[Getagrip]

Great review, again!
And fantastic looking darts!Those close pics!
Jewelry! Like small spears of a king in the antiquity!
Target made a good job,again.

Interesting what you all say about the technique, (that lighter darts require more perfection in the throw).
I used to think that this is also true with heavier darts.If I make a mistake in the movement, the bigger weight drives the dart further away from my target.

Anyway, I must try these, or at least the Hankey's..

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I think they look excellent!

I will try them someday for sure!

I like the look too Guests cannot see images in the messages. Please register at the forum by clicking here to see images.

For your reviews I know you keep things stock but if you tried those again with smaller flights I think you'd find it's much easier to throw them. I tried throwing them with standard flights and they went everywhere. I have no idea how Bunting does it.

Ah good suggestion, I will give it a try but I think my throw style needs the lift from a bigger flight, often smaller flights cut throw the air too quick and drop, but not tried that on such a light dart so will see what happens Guests cannot see images in the messages. Please register at the forum by clicking here to see images.

[Getagrip]

For your reviews I know you keep things stock but if you tried those again with smaller flights I think you'd find it's much easier to throw them. I tried throwing them with standard flights and they went everywhere. I have no idea how Bunting does it.

Well I stuck some pears on these darts earlier and had about 20 mins with them. At first I still had that "wheres the darts, are these feathers?" feeling with the light weight but after a few throws I had started to feel the darts better and was throwing quite well with the pears, I noticed I was getting closer and closer then hitting a few trebles then I should have had a 180, GRRR!!!! it was a sin I never but my first 2 went into the left side bed of the T20 very close together and I made the mistake of not just throwing the next dart but I thought to myself "look at all that room, this is a 180 for sure!" so I throw the dart and it goes into the right side of the T1, I was gutted lol, if that had gone in I think I would have been as chuffed as I was when I hit my first 180, it would have been my first with a set so light! :s