upgrade SW's; cargo, PD and FSD (run it without weapons) until u have around 100k and then sell crap SW and go hauler and upgrade it significantly and run it without weapons (i run a shield cell since im in IRONMAN MODE) until U hit 400k and then sell crap Hauler and jump in Cobra which u first upgrade as a full cargo ship with shields and NO weapons (i think 44 cargo) until u hit 1 million THEN either push for the ASP or kit out Cobra as a bounty hunter.
i wiped last week and took this route and in my kitted out Cobra over the last 4-5 days of bounty hunting i am up to Novice with 112 kills and 750K in bounties and no deaths since wipe. most of those ships i pulled out of SC including many ASPs and sev Clippers. I am in ironman mode so i only engage Pythins and Annacondas with help. A cop stole a 75K Python bounty from me when i did 90% of damage. i watched the fight for a while and cops could not drop his shields which i did quickly, but i ran out of power right at the kill shot! i was scared when a drop ship interdicted me in SW, but i motored away and he didnt even drop my shields.
in BETA i died 28 times really having fun and blasting around taking on Annacondas and dying boosting inside station really learning the game esp how to use thrusters in combat against bigger ships which was a great training ground, but now after cleansave REROLL theres no fun, its DEATHDEALER time!
GAME ON!