If the mounts have lateral or windage adjustment(mit support), it would be in the rear mount and above the hooks. This adjustment is done by opposing screws and is not filed at all. The "grooves' on the slider are not from wear at all, they are from filing to fit the rear mounts.If there has been too much filing on the slider( hooks too high,should be about the width of a scribe line "proud"),it can be easily replaced.BTY,the leading edge of the slider can have a small angle to get it started, but the fitting should be level, not as a wedge(recoil would wedge everything together too tightly).It is realitively easy to fit the slider to the hooks, but pretty hard to fit the hooks to the slider, and there is a good chance of getting the hooks too low.Working the hooks reguires "blind filing", but filing the slider doesn't.The way to do it is to remove it,and with a pick, remove the springs that act on it.Put the slider back in(leave the springs out and one "thumbpiece").Put the mount in and push the slider forward(a brass drift and small hammer is helpful).With whatever spotting agent you use on the hooks or slider, the area to be filed will be obvious when the slider is removed.Once it gets started,it shouldn't be necessary to use any spoting compound,bright wear spots should be enough.Using the drift and small hammer insures all the "slack" is taken up in fitting. In fitting the front hooks( this is not usually done for new mounts,as the plate comes already forcefit to the hooks)it is easier to drift the plate out of the base( out-left to right,in right to left)and fit it onto the hooks.Then you can see the underside and can get a better idea of the profile required.By locking the ring down in the vise,a drift can be used to force the plate onto the hooks. This will leave wear marks on the hooks,showing where filing is needed.Spotting agent can be used to start.Final fiting should be done with worn 320 grit cloth backed by a file.Final fit should take a fair amount of force to install the plate.It will feel easier with the scope is instaled, as it makes a pretty long lever. Do I have everyone confused yet?
Mike
