Planning for the future when I have more credits then I know what to do with.
What would you put in a huge hardpoint with the goal of blowing ships up in a bounty hunter build?

In a month or two I suspect I will have a ton of money with my combo trader/BH'er Python - which BTW is working quite well and is already moduled up.
But I like specialized ships (ships optimized for a single role) and also the fleet concept so when I get to the point where I have more money then I know what to do with max the Python back out as a trader and pick up a newly buffed FDL.

Never had a huge hardpoint (You...stop laughing over there!) so I was curious what the consensus was for the best weapon?
A Plasma Accelerator?

I hear the size of your Plasma Accelerator doesn't matter... Seriously not much help I know, but it was my impression that those huge HPs were for cap ship killing, maybe there will be a massive hard point in the future for that.

Well disregard.
At the Coriolis site to fill that spot there is a choice of a big arse cannon or the Plasma Accelerator.
Guess when the time comes, weeks from now, experience will be the best teacher.

Well if you are going to choose between the two. There is one maybe two factors between each of those weapons that may help you make up your mind.

The most prominent is heat. Plasma Accel's will load you up with heat really quickly. Cannons run cool.

I have no checked the HUGE category however as what i have seen in game with the smaller versions is that cannons also draw less power than plasma accels.

Those two points depending what you have decided to put on your ship may sway your preference.

Both have slow projectile speeds.

But if you want to take that further (again i haven't checked the huge category) but ammo for cannons is cheaper than the plasma and IIRC you tend to get more shots with cannons than with plasma.

Thanks for the tips sir.

Depends on where the hardpoint is located. Topside, I'd probably experiment with PA or Cannon. Somehow, it's still hard to beat a big laser + 2F gimballed MCs.

Yes indeed.
I have learned that it is sometimes better (i.e., ultimately dish out more damage) to go with a smaller weapon you can fire continuously then a large weapon with a limited ROF due to ammo and/or heat issues.

Up to a certain point, I would think. I would opt for a larger weapon when flying a less maneuverable ship. Get as much damage in while the target is in the killzone and then let the capacitors catch up as I turn my ship around. For a maneuverable ship where you can keep the enemy in your sights, well, get a bigger power distributor or simply stop firing the lasers and let the capacitors catch up.

I've not seen heat to be an issue yet, although I've seen my son's Clipper overheat when he uses the shield cell banks.