I don't think that the .22 has killed more deer than he .30-30, not even close, but i have heard that about the poaching. About the topic though, i've been wanting to get a new .30-30 for a while now partly because of the popularity and long time life of this cartridge, and partly because they;re inexpensive to buy and to shoot. I've shot the winchesters for years and they/re a blast. I mean come on, its a lever gun!