I don't need long range, but I do want good clarity and for it to stand up to the recoil of the rifle.

Recommendations?

I am not opposed to spending the money if the quality is there. I have a hog problem that needs to go away.

Some of these places are knee deep and less than 30yds from my dad's back door

After more research, I am going to buy the Swarovski Z8 1-8 I was originally thinking about

My goodness that's some serious damage. I don't know that you need such a large or exotic round vs just being there to put some rounds.

Good luck.

If you decide you need thermal Pulsar Apex XQ 50 would easily handle that recoil

I've seen some hog damage but I don't think I've ever seen it that bad.

I probably don't need that caliber, but I love big bores.

I set up a dusk to dawn light with a green led bulb, it will take a day or two for them to get accustomed to it and when they do it is on.

The scope and mount should be here mid week and I have from the 21st until the 3rd off, there is going to be bloodshed.

By the way they are probably digging for grubs so the best way to solve the problem is get rid of the grubs with some sort of grub killer

Post after pics please!! Including the scope!

It does not get much more thorough than that!

I am thinking that with such thorough tilling, if you wanted to start a garden, you are off to a good start. Otherwise, the hogs are probably after things like grubs. After you replant, you might consider keeping your yard treated for grubs and other ground larvae.

That one spot looking towards the fence was his garden, they did not leave anything.

The pecan orchard is just as bad if not worse, bad thing is we think they got one of the cats or he hauled butt to safer quarters.

We use green led motion lights and green light mounted on the guns. They will see the light. But like you said, they get used to the motion light. Setup a couple of game cameras to see how many there are and what time they show up. If they never show up before midnight, then you probably don't need to go out until 11pm.

Too late to effectively treat for grubs. I agree that the hogs were probably rooting for grubs and earth worms, but both are pretty deep in the soil in cooler weather. Too deep for a topical application of pesticide to do any good on the grubs. Also, the OP has Sandy Loam soil (same as mine) and hogs can (and will) dig it deeply to reach grubs.

Unless the OP has open pastures where he can get off several shots before the hog make their departure...I wouldn't recommend Thermal or Night Vision optics. He can set up a light on a photo cell and use any good quality rifle scope for the one or two shots he is going to get. Just bait them in. The SOCOM is a short range weapon anyway (best kept to 125 yds. or so). But what you CAN do (what I do with mine) is wait for two or more pigs to get 'lined up'. I routinely shoot 2-3 pigs at a time this way over bait.

If the OP is limited to commercial ammo...then he will want to pick the heaviest thing he can find. If he reloads....I recommend the Beartooth Piledriver (540 gr. hardcast). It will shoot through as many pigs as you can get lined up.

I almost never take a shot at a single hog any more (over bait) unless its a large boar. You can lay your corn out in a line such that the hogs (after jockeying for position) will line up almost as if at a feed trough. Of course, with any group there will be movement (its always dynamic) so you need to be ready. The closer together the pigs are the better. If you can set up a ground blind...your angle will allow for more hits than from an elevated stand. But anyone shooting a SOCOM should look for the opportunity for multiples. I've been doing it for years. If I can do it...anyone can.

You can shoot a 325g out to 200 yards and kill a pig. I wouldn't go past that.

I've killed hogs at nearly 300 yds. with a 405 gr. softpoint. It's not that the energy isn't there at longer ranges (300-400 gr. bullets) its just that you really need to know your trajectory beyond 125 yds. (if you have a 100 yd. zero). Most rounds start to fall like a marble off a table at the 150 yd. mark.

The 300 gr. Barnes TTSX loaded MAX. is your best performer beyond 125 yds. IMO.

^^^^^ Good advice. I have a couple of dedicated hog stands on my property (elevated stands, feeder lights on photo cells, automatic feeders) and the use of game cameras is invaluable to establish not only feeding patterns, but also the make up of the sounder (Mostly older hogs, Sows with young, Mixture). So not only can I establish when they are coming in...but I can pick which bullet type I want to use.

I reload for my SOCOM and I am shooting anything from a 100 gr. (yes 100) up to 540 gr. bullets from it.

Pulsar XP50 is what I'd recommend. Thermal is the game changer and way way more effective than any light setup. Combine with cameras to pattern them. That's some pretty stout damage right there!