When I use the alignment rod, do I need to have the adaptor/mount rocksett & torqued on the gun or just do this with the adaptor/mount and the suppressor hand tight?
You do not have to have things thread locked. My recommendation is to have things tightened down, as that way you know there would be no margin for error. In theory hand tight shouldn't shift, but why risk the possibility of getting a baffle strike or multiple strikes and end up having bad damage.