Well, for a Section.1 shotgun kept on a Firearms Certificate (rather than a "normal" Section.2 gun kept on a ShotGun Certificate):
I thought that there was a mag cap on shotguns over there.
Nope.
The rules on shotguns in the UK are not as unreasonably stupid as their laws governing handguns and rifles.
There is a magazine capacity limit, though I'm not sure what it is
As I said, "nope".
semi-auto shotguns are allowed.
Indeed; there are a number of people shootin' Saiga 12s over here. However, one difference between an SGC and FAC is that the police don't start to whinge at you until you have, say, a dozen guns. With a FAC, you have "slots" (I have two slots) and you are only allowed one gun per slot. Hence, while I can buy 3-shot limited shotguns "for fun" on my SGC, I have to be ruthless on the Section.1 slots. Unless, of course, I can come up with "justification" for extra slots.
Rifles, by the way, are held on FAC so, once again, no buying loads of fun guns. Unless you have a *need* for them.
One *can* have pistols, but they are (IIRC) Section.5 which means you have to have *very* good reason to acquire one. For example, humane despatch or as a backup gun for dangerous game hunters. (Uh, where the *game* is dangerous - not the hunters...)
Believe it or not, but some of the best practical shotgun competitors are Brits.
Yeah but, unfortunately, not *me*.
As has been said, a lot depends upon what method you use for speed-loading. I'm still using a plain ol' speed-loader belt with vertical clips. As for the rest of our club, many use three, four or six cartridge boxes. Some use belts that hold rounds vertically in pairs and we have at least one that wears a "suicide bomber" chest rig. Finally, we have one that uses long plastic pipes that hold half-a-dozen rounds each and are slid in using a handle.
Nonetheless, if you want to be fast, you have to *practice*. In addition to making oneself familiar with one's gun, PSG is also damned good *fun*.
Regards,
Mark.