Bolter or auto cannon

[scotti88]

I've got enough points left for 9 or so hwt and I'm confused which would do better against a nuts load of Orks! I'm more towards auto cannon

[Paradill]

Auto cannons are the best general utility heavy weapon in the game, they're good at punching almost anything out the sky/water/earth.

I'd always go with them unless you really want to specialise against just standard Boyz, in which case the higher number of shots from heavy Bolters might be better, but I'd still go Autocannons.

[WestRider]

Heavy Bolters aren't even that much better against Boyz.
6 Heavy Bolters: 18 shots: 9 Hits: 6 Wounds
6 Autocannon: 12 Shots: 6 Hits: 5 Wounds

Given the greater ability of the Autocannon against anything in the Ork Army other than Boyz, and their greater Range, the choice is pretty clear-cut to me.

[emptyhat]

Do orders make much of a difference when hosing down boyz?

[WestRider]

Nope. Fire on My Target will provide exactly the same improvement to both, and none of the other orders will affect Heavy Weapons fired at Infantry.

Actually, Fire on My Target tips the edge even a little more toward the Autocannon, because a smaller number of dice is less reliable, and benefits more from Re-rolls.

[Captain Zapp Brannigan]

Normally I'm a fan of the 'potential' a weapon has to offer rule. As WestRider pointed out at the end of the day there is only one wound average extra that you can get out of a Heavy Bolter team however should the dice Gods smile favourably upon you, you have the potential to bag a good number of Orks in your case.

That being said, I normally play against tides of Tyranids and my Autocannons always out perform my Heavy Bolters. The extra round (Or two, depending on how directly your opponent moves his troops towards your line) can make up some of the difference plus the ability to reliably switch over to MC or in your case shoddy Ork vehicles/walkers is another advantage of Autocannons.