Brian
The best Hunter One mechanic I know is Jerry Andrews. Years ago I purchased a 3E 12-bore at a gun show and got a deal on the gun because its HOT was not functional; otherwise the gun was outstanding. I'd heard of Jerry and his spill that he'd never seen a HOT he couldn't fix, even if one wanted to shoot the gun holding it upside down! So how could I go wrong with a claim that bold? I traded with Jerry and the gun was returned in time for dove season. At the first shot, the gun doubled so, so much for Jerry's claim! However, the gun never doubled or the HOT malfunctioned again; that was the best pass shooting gun I've ever owned and too late realized I'd been a fool for trading it away. In total I've owned 4 LC's with HOT triggers that I shot regularly; the above 3E, an A-2, a 5E, and an Ideal. The 5E was the first and it needed major work, so I sent it to Buck Hamlin for restoration. Buck did a beautiful job but in the process he converted my HOT gun to double triggers. Buck is gone now; he was a great friend and mentor, and was an outstanding gunsmith. I loved the man, but he absolutely hated HOT triggers; my point being that many gunsmiths just don't have the ability or aren't willing to spend the time required to get a HOT tuned correctly, and I believe that was the case with the individual you encountered. But the HOT trigger is a great trigger if not abused and adjusted correctly, otherwise Westley Richards would not have installed the HOT trigger on their dangerous game big-bore double rifles. I personally like single trigger double guns; and for what it's worth, the only SST gun that's failed me in the field was a 20-bore GHE Parker. That beautiful little gun found a new home after Del Grego failed twice in their efforts to make that trigger function properly.