I once had a M-70 SS Classic with holes so far off, the smith had to offset the factory holes, drill bases to fit the new screw holes. Most aren't that bad.
You can't drill a new hole if the footprint of the larger screw doesn't cover the old hole. In this case it wouldn't; it would have left a half hole exposed and that won't work. Offsetting was easier than welding the old holes and starting over.
DF
I had a 25-06 SPS Stainless that was an absolute hammer . Problem was even with the windage adjustments all the way out I could not get it on paper. I let a Gunsmith have it for a song and dance who was going to fix it
