RE: What's a good varmint gun, all around?
radar...I LOVE the 25-06 for deer. It's a great gun in the proper situation. It's also rough on groundhogs. However, if you're looking for a gun for plinking, the 25-06 isn't cheap.
I own a 223 and love it. It's cheap to shoot...no recoil...and it's a lot quieter than the 25-06.