British Wildcat armament matched boom-and-zoom tactics

Why did the British want six guns on the Wildcat despite the extra weight and fewer rounds per gun?

They wanted a heavier burst for boom-and-zoom attacks that struck hard and disengaged quickly under fighter control.

The six-gun Wildcat carried fewer rounds per gun but delivered a heavier burst. That trade suited the British preference for boom-and-zoom attacks. A fighter was expected to hit hard during a short pass and then leave the engagement. Fighter control helped place the aircraft where it could make that attack.