wow, i feel like a *******.
i think i have my accuracy problem figured out. so saturday i got up early to load up some more loads to try. went and shot them and came up with the same results as before. 1.5 - 2.5" groups. left my buddies placed ready to give up on the gun and go to one of my others. stopped at the in-laws to pick up my wife and was looking for ground hogs across the road with the .338 rum in hand. in sitting there, looking at the rifle i noticed that the lockring for the eyepiece on the scope was about 3/16" of an inch away from the eyepiece. no where near locked down.
i thought about it a bit and put the gun away. thought about it some more sunday and then again before getting up for work today. took the gun to the garage and locked it in the vise and confirmed what i already knew.
at least i only wasted $100 or less on bullets, primers, powder and brass life. not to mention the time, and gas to go to my buddies to shoot.