So I am following the example of piipu's neat drones where he has an AHuman lua turret attached to a ACDropShip, but I am trying to attach my the AHuman turret to a HeldDevice. I sorting out a number of stupid mistakes (i.e. spelling) I have it working when the HeldDevice is not being held, but if the HeldDevice is assigned to an actor when dropped out of a rocket or drop ship the turret is not there until the HeldDevice is knocked out of the actor's hands.
Anyone have any advice for what I should try and change to get that working?

When HDFirearms are held, they're considered attachables, and Lua does not work on Attachables currently. You're out of luck.

EDIT: Replace any of the above "HDFirearms" with "HeldDevice"

Well, that would explain it... Back to the drawing board for me.