Shotguns

Here’s the good news: the Ranges at Oakfield in Thomasville, Georgia is only seven minutes from the Shotgun Life office. And the bad news? The skeet, trap and five-stand face south, which means that, just about any time of the day, you’re shooting directly into the tropical South Georgia sun.

Development of the Ranges at Oakfield began in 2014, as a collaboration between Thomas County and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. The Georgia DNR played a critical role in determining the viability of the project through exhaustive environmental and community impact studies. When the Ranges at Oakfield finally opened in October 2020, clays shooters were taken aback that they would be shooting into the sun. The explanation was simple: had the fields been facing in most any other direction residential noise abatement or proximity to County Farm Road probably would have spiked the project.

As an avid clays shooter, I enjoy spending summer days on the shooting course with my friends. Recently, the increasing heat waves and alarming rise of heat strokes reported at outdoor sporting events or religious gatherings have made us all more aware of potential heat-related health risks. This prompted me to look for ways to optimize safety and performance when clay shooting in extreme heat and humidity. 

Turkish-made semi-automatic shotguns have gained in popularity through their rock-bottom prices and wide-spread availability. Just about any gun store in America will have a model or two (or more) that appeals to budget-minded wing and clays enthusiasts, while the online selection seems almost boundless. In addition to routinely getting the job done for diehard shooters, these semi-automatics are often a cost-effective go-to choice for first-time shooters dipping their toe in the water, or as a knock-about when the weather turns foul in the field.