CDM5 wrote:Now I'd like to take part in practical shotgun but you're not allowed to buy shotgun cartridges with just an FAC

Says who? Not the law for one...
I never had a S.G.C. for years, just had F..A.C. shotguns. Bought cartridges by showing my F.A.C. with the 12-bores listed on it.
Proof of ownership of a shotgun on F.A.C.
IS legal authorisation to purchase cartridges from an RFD. I did this for years...some RFD's know the law well, others do not. ANY that cause a problem, either print off the relevant pages of the Act, tell them to phone the Firearms Dept
or take your business to those that know what they are doing...as the signs in the Zoo say "Don't feed the animals"
(Same as my #1 rule: if an RFD sells
"bullet heads" I make a mental note to donate my hard earned pennies elsewhere)
Practical shotgun cartridges such as slug are Section 1 F.A.C. items anyway.
Buckshot is section 2 - but good luck finding a stockist.
Bird-shot - easy to buy but some extra restrictions may bump up the price
(i.e. Carlisle range insists on felt-wad only)
My 0.02c idea - load your own S.1 ammo & buckshot
Makes it a LOT cheaper for a start AND the supply & demand problems are minimised by doing so.