Packhound cannot be fired on something without have it locked in targeting. They are good against some tougher threats which shows at least for some time as "target" for ship. Dumbfires on the other hand can be fired anytime and are perfect for destroying on foot NPCs due explosions (area damage). On foot NPCs are really hard to hit with ship weapons because you cannot lock aim on them. It is possible, I killed one with imperial hammer, but it was more luck as something else.
