What’s In Your Range Bag, Rylan Kissell?

by
posted on February 8, 2022
r_kissell_rangebag-1.jpg

Rylan Kissell, who hails from Denver, Colorado, is a freshman on the top-ranked University of Alaska-Fairbanks Nanooks rifle team. Last November at the 2021 Junior Pan American Games, Kissell made a big splash while competing in the men’s air rifle event, winning the gold medal with a hard-earned 250 score in the final. Find out what he keeps in his range bag.

Rylan Kissell
On January 23 at Air Force, Kissell notched a 600 score in air rifle, only the 15th shooter to do so in NCAA history—and the second in Alaska Nanooks rifle history. He repeated the feat a week later at the 2022 Patriot Rifle Conference Championships.


What are your first memories of handling a firearm?

For as long as I can remember I have been a shooter. At six years old, I started shooting my BB gun in the backyard. I set up a target trap and had some little targets to shoot.

Tell us how you began in competitive shooting.
At 13 years old, when I stopped swimming, my parents told me I had to find a new sport. That’s when I discovered competitive shooting and fell in love with it.

What firearms and other gear do you use for competition?
For air gun, I shoot a Walther LG400 Anatomic and use RWS pellets. My smallbore is a Walther KK300 Anatomic with Lapua .22 LR ammunition.

Alaska-Fairbanks rifle team
Rylan Kissell’s 1194 score was the high individual aggregate among all NCAA shooters for the first half of the 2021-22 collegiate rifle season.


What is your favorite firearm accessory?

My favorite accessory on my rifle is the 3D printed cheek piece that Coach Anti made for me.

Tell us about your range bag and what you carry in it besides your firearms.
For a range bag I carry an Ogio bag. I like it because it has a lot of space for all the equipment I need to carry. This includes my stand, a shooting suit, kneeling roll, tools and ammunition.

What do you do in your free time?
During my free time, I enjoy fishing. Since I attend the University of Alaska-Fairbanks, I try to fish around Alaska whenever I find the chance. It’s a beautiful state.

What would you tell someone interested in finding out more about your sport?
Don’t be afraid to reach out to someone and ask questions if you are interested in learning more about my sport. Most people are happy to answer you, but you have to ask.

College rifle
Kissell won the individual aggregate with a 1189 score when Alaska-Fairbanks faced Air Force in January.


Any tips for the new shooter?

My advice for new shooter is to never stop developing your process for how you shoot. Keep experimenting and finding things that work and also those that don’t work. It’s good to know both.


Read more: What’s In Your Range Bag, Tom Fuller?

Latest

CMP Advanced Class 1
CMP Advanced Class 1

CMP Class Teaches Advanced M1 Garand Rifle Maintenance

Civilian Marksmanship Program releases dates for 2025 Advanced Maintenance classes to be held in Anniston, Ala.

Classic SSUSA: The Inaugural NRA World Shooting Championship

Begin with 159 world champions, run them through 11 shooting stages, all with standard guns provided by the match sponsors, and you end up with a new trophy and $50,000 awarded to the inaugural NRA World Shooting Champion.

Legends: Sue Ann Sandusky 1952-2024

The shooting sports community mourns the loss of Sue Ann Sandusky, a three-time NRA All-American, Army veteran and Distinguished service rifle shooter, who sadly passed away on Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2024.

Gunwerks Spike Feet Set Designed To Improve Grip And Add Stability In Uneven Terrain

This new set of spike feet for the Gunwerks Elevate 2.0 bipod promises to maintain a solid grip in tough terrain.

XS Sights Expands DXT2 Pro Series, R3D 2.0 Lineup For SIG Sauer, Smith & Wesson, Springfield Armory And FN Pistols

XS Sights adds models to the DXT2 Pro Series and R3D 2.0 lineups that will fit SIG Sauer, Smith & Wesson, Springfield Armory and FN pistols.

Modern Technology Implemented To Surmount Logistical Hurdles: 1958 National Matches

The more than 4,000 shooters at the 1958 NRA National Matches were greeted by advanced technology used to speed up administrative tasks during the most populous period in National Match history.

Interests



Get the best of Shooting Sports USA delivered to your inbox.