PVP wise, the FDL, personally, is the best choice. Ive had maxed out versions of both the python and FDL, and I will take the FDL with its power issues over the python anyday. I love the huge PA. I pulled an enemy commander out of supercruise that was attacking other commanders in cargo ships in the Nanomam home system. He was in a Federal Dropship, and he came straight at me head to head.. He started firing, and I started firing as I was lining up my PA. His shields were almost gone, mine were still 1 and half bars when I fired the PA.. with one shot he lost his shields and was down to about 70% armor. He panicked after realizing what I was carrying and tried to make a run for it.. Sorry, but your not getting away from my FDL.. I chipped away at him and managed to line up my PA for another shot, he was down to about 20% armor and he just popped when the PA hit him..
If I was in a python, he would have gotten away for sure, and I think I would have taken more damage. This is why I fly the FDL. Its not perfect, it needs just a little more power, just a little, but what it does well, it does REALLY friggen well. I have tried using the huge cannon, but it seems severely underpowered for its class size, but it is a lot easier to use. At first I hated the PA, and I kept swapping back and forth. But then I decided to stick to the PA for 1 week, and it was the best decision I have ever made. If you have an FDL and are not using the PA, try and load it out and spend a week learning how to use it, trust me its worth the effort and once you have learned how to use it a bit more effectively, you will even be popping small ships in almost one shot.
If I was in a python, he would have gotten away for sure, and I think I would have taken more damage. This is why I fly the FDL. Its not perfect, it needs just a little more power, just a little, but what it does well, it does REALLY friggen well. I have tried using the huge cannon, but it seems severely underpowered for its class size, but it is a lot easier to use. At first I hated the PA, and I kept swapping back and forth. But then I decided to stick to the PA for 1 week, and it was the best decision I have ever made. If you have an FDL and are not using the PA, try and load it out and spend a week learning how to use it, trust me its worth the effort and once you have learned how to use it a bit more effectively, you will even be popping small ships in almost one shot.