Shooting Portrait
Dylan Keppel
"My formula is simple: one shot, one Alpha – with GECO."
Dylan Keppel is one of the most exciting and accomplished talents of Europe's new generation of IPSC shooters.
Combining blistering speed, pinpoint accuracy and an analytical mindset, the Dutchman has earned himself a fitting nickname on the range: "The Calculator."
Backed by the strong partnership of BERETTA and GECO, Dylan has already secured outstanding international results, including a Top 10 finish at the 2025 IPSC Handgun World Shoot in South Africa and an impressive 4th place in the Production Optics Division (6th Overall) at the 2026 IPSC European Handgun Championship in Hungary.
His focus is firmly set on the future. Through disciplined preparation, structured training and a perfectly refined competition setup, Dylan is determined to establish himself among the world's elite and challenge for podium finishes at the sport's biggest championships.
Athlete Profile Dylan Keppel
Name: Dylan Keppel
Nationality: Netherlands
Born: 1997, Zoetermeer
IPSC Classification: Grand Master
Divisions: Production Optics / Open
Nickname: The Calculator
Current Competition Pistol: Beretta 94X Performance
Optic: Shield RMSx
Ammunition: GECO 9 mm Luger – 124 gr
Known For: An analytical competitor with a relentless focus on stage planning, efficiency and consistency.
Major Achievements
- 8th Place – IPSC Handgun World Shoot 2025 (Production Optics)
- 4th Place – IPSC European Handgun Championship 2026 (Production Optics), 6th Overall
- Six-time Dutch National Champion
- Winner of more than 50 Presidential Medals
- Three-time Beretta Gold Cup Champion
- GECO Match Champion – 2023, 2024 & 2025
- Winner – CZC/Infinity Match 2025
- Winner – Hot Shots 2025
- Competing for Team GECO since 2024
Competition Firearm
Production / Production Optics
Beretta 94X Performance
Dylan currently competes with the Beretta 94X Performance, fitted with his own custom-built Elite Hammer. Everything else remains completely stock.
The pistol offers exceptional balance, outstanding reliability and an exceptionally soft shooting experience, allowing for fast and accurate follow-up shots. Straight out of the box, it performs at an extremely high level and requires only minimal customisation to be fully competition-ready.
For Dylan, that's exactly what matters.
A reliable pistol allows him to focus entirely on what wins matches: stage execution.
Combined with GECO 124 gr ammunition and the Shield RMSx optic, his setup delivers the consistency and confidence he expects every time the timer starts.
Ammunition: Training & Competition
Dylan deliberately shoots the same ammunition for both training and competition. Rather than switching between different loads, he relies on one consistent setup to ensure identical recoil characteristics, identical shot behaviour and identical performance every single time.
His philosophy is simple.
Consistency beats variation.
The Story
Dylan Keppel is not your typical instinctive shooter.
He's a thinker. An analyst.
Someone who doesn't simply react to a stage. He anticipates it.
His nickname, "The Calculator," isn't a gimmick. It's an accurate reflection of the way he approaches IPSC. While many competitors rely on instinct and rhythm, Dylan breaks every stage down into its individual components: movement, transitions, target sequences and risk assessment. To him, a stage isn't simply something to shoot. It's a problem to solve.
"I don't just shoot a stage. I calculate it. Hit factor, movement, risk. Everything has to make sense before I fire the first shot."
That mindset didn't develop overnight.
Growing up in a family passionate about shooting sports, Dylan was introduced to IPSC by his father at an early age. At first, he watched from the sidelines. But by the age of 14, one thing had become clear. Watching was no longer enough. He wanted to compete.
What began as fascination soon developed into genuine ambition. At 19, he obtained his shooting licence and started competing. From that moment on, it was never simply about taking part. It was about improving. Every match, every stage and every training session became another opportunity to move forward.
Today, Dylan is one of those competitors who has earned his place through discipline, repetition and a systematic approach to improvement. Nothing is left to chance.
For him, training isn't something you fit into your schedule. It's the foundation of everything. Countless repetitions, structured practice sessions and unwavering consistency have shaped the competitor he is today.
And the results speak for themselves.
A major milestone came with his podium finish at the 2023 IPSC European Championship. More than just another medal, it confirmed that his approach worked. Precision, preparation and discipline could compete with the very best.
His true international breakthrough, however, came on the biggest stage in practical shooting.
At the 2025 IPSC Handgun World Shoot in South Africa, Dylan competed against more than 1,600 shooters from almost 50 countries. Over 30 demanding stages, constantly changing conditions and relentless pressure combined to create one of the toughest competitions in IPSC.
"A World Shoot is a completely different game. It's all about performing under pressure. Every small mistake costs points."
Finishing 8th in the Production Optics Division under those circumstances was far more than another strong result.
It was proof.
Proof that Dylan Keppel had established himself among the world's leading Production Optics competitors.
He reinforced that status at the 2026 IPSC European Handgun Championship in Buzsák, Hungary. Against one of the strongest fields in European IPSC, he delivered another outstanding performance, finishing 4th in the Production Optics Division and 6th Overall.
For most competitors, those results would be a destination.
For Dylan, they're milestones.
Because anyone who knows him understands one thing.
He never stops analysing.
He never stops refining.
He never stops improving.
Once one match is over, his attention immediately shifts to the next stage.
The next challenge.
The next opportunity to perform at an even higher level.
For Dylan Keppel, progress is never accidental.
It's calculated.
Training, Routine & Mental Strength
"Consistency beats everything. That's why I train and compete with exactly the same setup. No surprises. No excuses."
For Dylan, success isn't built during competition. It's built long before the timer goes off.
His training routine is structured, disciplined and highly consistent. Every session has a clear purpose, and every repetition contributes to becoming a more complete competitor.
Weekly Training
- Dry Fire: at least three sessions per week
- Live Fire: around three sessions per week
- Approximately 300 rounds per week
- Around 50,000 rounds per year
Dry fire remains the foundation of his programme. His primary focus is on the core skills that decide matches:
- Draws
- Reloads
- Movement
- Position entries and exits
Away from the range, Dylan complements his shooting with targeted physical training, including:
- Speed and sprint work (once a week)
- Explosive strength training (three sessions per week)
- Box jumps
- Split squats
- Core stability
Physical preparation is important, but Dylan considers his greatest strength to be his mindset.
Visualisation is an essential part of his preparation. Before stepping into the shooting box, he has already run the stage countless times in his mind. Every movement, every transition and every shot has been rehearsed long before the start signal.
For Dylan, confidence doesn't come from hope. It comes from preparation.
Season Schedule & Goals
Dylan's focus is firmly on the international IPSC circuit.
His season typically includes more than 20 matches, with major competitions across Europe forming the backbone of his calendar.
Highlights include:
- International Level III matches
- Beretta Gold Cups across Europe
- The GECO Match
- The GECO Masters in Philippsburg
- Major IPSC Championships
Having already claimed three Beretta Gold Cup titles, three consecutive GECO Match victories, and numerous wins at prestigious Level III competitions, Dylan continues to challenge himself against the strongest fields in international IPSC.
His long-term ambition couldn't be clearer.
To become IPSC Handgun World Champion.
Until then, every match serves a purpose. Every stage is another opportunity to gain experience, refine his performance and take another step towards the top.
And if everything comes together, he'd like to achieve that goal alongside his teammates from Team GECO.
“I don't travel to competitions just to take part. I travel to win. The goal is always the podium.”
Stage Strategy
Preparation begins long before the first shot.
Every stage follows the same disciplined routine:
1. Count the targets.
2. Develop multiple stage plans.
3. Calculate the hit factor.
4. Evaluate risk versus reward.
5. Define movement, transitions and shooting rhythm.
Dylan always makes full use of the official walk-through time.
One detail sets him apart from many competitors. He genuinely enjoys being the first shooter on a stage.
While others see added pressure, Dylan sees opportunity. Shooting first allows him to set the pace, commit fully to his stage plan and put points on the board before the rest of the field has even started.
Nutrition & Consistency
Consistency extends well beyond the range.
Dylan monitors his bodyweight every day, follows a high-protein diet and maintains a stable competition weight of around 72 kg throughout the season.
For him, physical consistency supports mental consistency.
Every detail matters.
Motivation
Ask Dylan what drives him, and the answer is immediate.
Competition.
Measuring himself against the world's best shooters. Constantly improving. Solving new challenges on every stage. And experiencing the unique atmosphere that only IPSC can offer.
That's what keeps him coming back.
Every match.
Every weekend.
Every season.
QUICK-FIRE INTERVIEW WITH DYLAN KEPPEL - Q&A SESSION:
1. How did you get into IPSC?
Through my father. I grew up spending time at the range, watching him compete. At some point, watching wasn't enough anymore. I wanted to get involved myself. I started training seriously at the age of 14, and from then on I knew I wanted to see how far I could take the sport.
2. Why do people call you "The Calculator"?
Because I approach every stage analytically. I calculate different hit factors, work through multiple stage plans and then choose the one that offers the greatest advantage. IPSC isn't just about shooting fast. It's about finding the most efficient solution.
3. You're currently competing with the Beretta 94X Performance. What makes it the right pistol for you?
I'm shooting the Beretta 94X Performance with my own custom-built Elite Hammer. Everything else is completely stock.
The pistol offers exceptional balance, outstanding reliability and a remarkably flat shooting experience, allowing for faster, more accurate follow-up shots. It performs at an extremely high level straight out of the box, so it only needs minimal customisation to be fully competition-ready.
That gives me the confidence to focus entirely on stage execution.
4. Why do you keep the modifications to a minimum?
Because reliability wins matches.
I'm not interested in changing parts just for the sake of it. Once I know my equipment performs exactly the way I want it to, I leave it alone. Confidence comes from consistency, and consistency comes from trusting your setup.
5. How important is ammunition to your performance?
It's absolutely critical.
I shoot GECO 124 gr, and I shoot it all the time. I don't separate training ammunition from match ammunition because I want every shot to feel exactly the same.
For me, consistency is more important than chasing small differences.
6. What does a typical training week look like?
I train several times a week.
That includes Dry Fire, Live Fire, strength and conditioning, and mental preparation.
The goal is continuous improvement across every aspect of my performance, from technical skills and movement efficiency to speed, accuracy and decision-making.
7. What do you focus on most during training?
The fundamentals.
Draws, reloads, movement and clean stage execution.
A lot of shooters focus on speed first. I believe speed is the result of doing the fundamentals consistently well. If the basics are solid, the speed will come naturally.
8. Which result means the most to you so far?
The 2025 IPSC Handgun World Shoot in South Africa.
Finishing 8th in Production Optics at the biggest match in our sport was a defining moment in my career. It proved that I can compete with the very best shooters in the world.
9. What does your competition season look like?
My calendar is built around international matches.
This season includes several flights across Europe, Beretta Gold Cups, major Level III matches and the biggest IPSC championships.
Competing against the strongest shooters is the best way to keep improving.
10. What's your ultimate goal?
To become IPSC Handgun World Champion.
Everything I do is aimed at that goal.
Every training session.
Every match.
Every lesson learned along the way.
And hopefully, one day, I'll be standing on top of the podium together with my teammates from Team GECO.
Bonus Question
What's your favourite firearm?
Right now, without a doubt, it's the Beretta 94X Performance.
It suits my shooting style perfectly.
Conclusion
Dylan Keppel represents a new generation of IPSC competitors.
Analytical.
Disciplined.
Relentless.
He doesn't rely on instinct alone, and he certainly doesn't leave success to chance.
His performances are built on meticulous preparation, structured training and an unwavering commitment to continuous improvement.
Every stage is analysed.
Every movement is intentional.
Every shot has a purpose.
For Dylan, excellence isn't a destination.
It's a process.
And if his journey so far is anything to go by, one thing is certain.
The best is yet to come.
WHERE EXCITEMENT STARTS
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