They are louder! I was stationed in England for a couple of years. The Brits are big into Air Power. RWS had released a 9mm lever action and there were some press releases about a .50 cal. I had a brake parrel .22 that was as loud as 22 shorts. I also had apair ofprecharge rifles in .22 and .177 cal. They had air tanks attached that i filled from an extra dive tank. Each shot was launched with 2000 psi. I taked a target to a wooden shed that had 1x4 wood sidding to zero them with a Simmons 3x9-40. At 25 yards the .177 went through the front and out the back. And while it was inside the building, it went through both ends ofmy Aluminium camper top. By the way, it shota ten shot group i could cover with a Dime. I killed lots of Rabbits, hares, Wood pigeons and one Red Fox ( temple at about10yds)with that rifle. They sounded like .22 mags. They make silencers for them, wich i had. They make a big differance.