I have been shooting varmints for 50-55 years,

My first gun was Stevens Savage .22Lr Mod 15y, still have this gun.

Your choice of a Ruger .22-250 is a good one.

My first dedicated Varmint gun was a Ruger Varmint rifle in .22-250 that I acquired in 1986. I put a Tasco Varmint 4x-16x scope on it. I have shot several thousands of prairie dogs, picket pins and gophers, hundreds of Grey diggers squirrels, rock chucks , ground hogs, a lot of coyotes, and a few passing by badgers with this gun. I haven's shot that gun in 15 or so years but I still have it-with original factory barrel.

Since I got the Ruger I have tried a number of other guns and calibers. What I have learned is you must select a gun for your game. You can take most anything with the Ruger but you must be be diligent about shot placement in the larger animals and it massive over kill on the smaller animals.

Without knowing what your chief game it is difficult to suggest a specific gun or caliber for you.

Based on my experience over those long years I have to agree wit Homer, a bolt gun in .223 with a good variable 4x-12x Scope makes good universal varmint gun in this day and age.

I have Remington 700 VLS with a Leupold 12X in .223 that is my choice in this caliber. Awesome shooting gun, shots way under an inch. Don't recall how small because it has been a while since i shot it on paper. My main shooting these days is gophers and is done with various 17's. But when the occasional badger or coyote pop up, I reach for the VLS.

You will be just fine with the .22-250 but also consider the .223 bolt gun for general varmint shooting

So what is my main gun these days? BSA 1215 in 17 Hornady Hornet with Simmons 4x-12 AO scope, usually always set at 6X. Put 1200 rounds through it last year.