I think your comment of the Barbour-wearing, range rover driving, purdy-totting shooting man is actually rather offensive and has no place on this or any other shooting forum.

The question you asked has been answered honestly by a number of people (including myself) and has given you some options to think about.

As many of the answers have said the same - a good gun, but maybe not the right starter gun - this could posibly tell you something.

Even on a rough shoot, a semi-auto would not be the best option. And I will explain why:

Even if there are 2 or 3 of you having a walk about, a semi auto is still, in my view, not the best gun to use. Ok, you can get a flag to stick in the breech to show its empty, but are you going to unload the gun and insert the flag every time you climb over a fence? Can you check to see if the barrel is clear from obstructions - something practically everyone I know does, every time the get a gun out of a case, crosses a fence, loads their gun?
Can you stand talking to your fellow guns in total confidence that your gun is empty? You may be able to, but other guns CAN NOT see that its empty if you have forgtten to bring or insert the flag - and lets be honest, its another thing to drop/forget/lose.

A semi-auto has 1 barrel, with whatever choke is in the end. A S/S or O/U has 2, each with potentially a different choke so you get a wider choice (by 100%) of what barrel to use 1st - choked first for a incomming bird, open one for a closer bird. With a semi, you are restricted.

My advice, as always, is visit a gunsmith or clay club and try out a selection of guns. If however, your heart is set on a semi-auto, then nothing will change your mind. Although I suspect you'll be looking for a 2nd gun pretty soon!

As for your comment about barbours and range rovers, let me enlighten you a little.

I own and run a 1000 acre shoot. I drive a G reg Daihatsu Sportrack, with a split roof that leaks, rust and permenant water leak. I dont have another car, that's the only one. I dont own a purdy, I do own a barbour, its very tatty and the dog sleeps on it, My 'Contry Pile' is in fact a semi detached house in need of renovation, I did not have the shoot passed down to me, I worked bloody hard to afford it and work even harder to run it, I dont employ a keeper as I and 2 others carry out those duties. I would love to have a 54 plate L200, a Purdy and clean barbour, but cant afford it. So your somewhat out-dated and class-inferior statement is not only offensive, but also mis-placed.

I wish you well.