Definitely go for the .20

Yes, an air rifle is WAY WAY WAY quieter than a .22LR even with sub-sonics. If they are legal in your State, silencers are also available for the R9 and available by mail order!!!!

Don't skimp on your scope and whetever you do, don't skimp on your mounts. Go for a Nikko Stirling, either the Gold Crown 4-12x40 (NOT the x42...these are the new models and pretty CRAP) or Platinum 3-9x40...which you should base with 1-peice medium Pro-mounts, the adjustable type if possible. If you can pick up a Tasco Varminter 2.5-10x42 you won't be disappointed either.

Take a deep breath....

The whole thing, with a silencer too, should be about $500....hope you are still interested as this set-up will give you at least 10yrs of hunting PLEASURE, remember, thats only $50 a year...and after that you may only need do as little as to re-scope and put in a new spring, say an extra $200 for another 10yrs....thats $20 per year!!!!!!

Compare this to a $150 rifle, $100 scope and mount package and an el-cheapo silencer...which will ALL probably fail within 5yrs, the scope probably within 2....and you will be spending around the same per year as the R9 package costs, and have a rifle set-up that won't perform near as well and will only last half as long, even 25% as long!!!!

THE FIGURES DON'T LIE!!!!!!!!

Good luck, buy right,
Turbow.

PS. A little tip when buying your scope: Write/Fax the distributor of the scope you are considering to purchase and ask them to reply with WRITTEN confirmation that the scope will handle spring powered airgun recoil (very very very different to rimfire recoil). Then once you have received that documentation, go down to your dealer and buy the scope telling him/her NOTHING about what the scope will be used for. This way you cover yourself twice as the distributor has guaranteed the scope on a spring gun, AND for all the dealer knows, you used the scope on a .22LR, and he too will be forced to replace/refund if it fails....AND KEEP THOSE RECEIPTS for EVERYTHING - Gun, mounts, scope, silencer etc...you'll kick yourself if something goes wrong and you've got no proof(s) of purchase.