The subsonic brand shells have been know to have issues cycling certain guns, they arent necessary anyways, most every 22 shell is subsonic anyways with the exception of the hollow point hyper velocity stuff like the CCI stinger. The noise reduction of a subsonic shell isn't that much unless you are running a silencer to quiet the rifle report, the subsonic shell only eliminates the crack the bullet makes as it breaks the sound barrier, the rifle will still go bang or in this case crack if it isn't silenced.
I use Remmington subsonic in my Ruger 10/22, picked some up at
Walmart a while back when I got lucky. I shot up a good bit of it at the range, and while I was wearing earpro, I could still tell a difference between that and the winchester bulk pack ammo, which is not subsonic.
Subsonic ammo won't be quiet, per se, but it will be much more quiet. The length of the barrel can have an effect too, I've heard 22-24 inch long barrels are pretty darn quiet, though I've not experienced it myself.
In a .22 a significant portion of the noise comes from the supersonic crack. With subsonic that is eliminated, as well as some of the report from the shot itself, which is lower powered.
But you are correct. It will still go bang. If you have neighbors in their yards 100 yards away when you shoot something attacking your birds, they will hear it. Further away, though, or inside, with the tv or AC running, you have a better chance of no drama from nosy neighbors.
Of course, depending on where you live, a silencer may not be a bad option, provided you do so legally. I can't do so legally here in California, but most of the country can do so if they feel inclined to jump through the legal hoops to get one.
