  We report on a large scale numerical study of networks of semilocal cosmic
strings in flat space in the parameter regime in which they are perturbatively
stable. We find a population of segments with an exponential length
distribution and indications of a scaling network without significant loop
formation. Very deep in the stability regime strings of superhorizon size grow
rapidly and ``percolate'' through the box. We believe these should lead at late
times to a population of infinite strings similar to topologically stable
strings. However, the strings are very light; scalar gradients dominate the
energy density and the network has thus a global texture-like signature. As a
result, the observational constraints, at least from the temperature power
spectrum of the CMB, on models predicting semilocal strings, should be closer
to those on global textures or monopoles, rather than on topologically stable
gauged cosmic strings.
