Imho, a clean system hook to disable the turretai for a turret could be a better way.
Turrets should not fire if they don't have a target. What happens if you deselect the target (hitting "u")? If they continue to fire, then it is probably a bug.
To summarize: Turrets activate and commence firing when:
a. There is a target selected.
b. Said target is hostile to ship carrying the turrets.
c. Said target is within turret firing range.
This means that you can use them also as attack weapons. If you fire on a ship, turning it hostile against you, turrets will also start firing on it.
Edit to add: You can also use the weapons offline switch to disable turrets, if you don't mind disabling everything else with it.
I normally do.
Problem for me is the use of the autotargetting oxp, which assign the primary target to first attacker firing on you when no target is selected,
the turrets start to fire, and unfortunately sometimes in a furball a cop or two gets hit...
As for using turrets as an attack weapon, there's a front setup for the Mimoriarty's Yasen, which is kind of nice when dogfighting, but I prefer the default or the top rear setup for saving me of getting thrown off guard.
heh, yeah I do. too often. Mostly when ambushed at witchpoint, when a pack of pirates injects my way and I have hardly any fuel left or whenI am out for a testrun I fequently pay the thargoids a visit in witchspace. Don't know, they don't seem to be very happy to see me and always greet me with laser fire... Maybe I should bring some flowers next time. Until then I try to squash bugs
I normally prefer dogfighting with laser and missiles. Currently I fly the stock yasen without a turret, because my current commander has still some credits to earn to afford a turret upgrade.