[ProfoundMan]

and it will throw out a .22 caliber pellet at the same muzzle velocity as the .22LR round

Not exactly. A good break barrel will hit 20-30 FPE. A 22LR will hit 100 FPE. Even subsonic 22 will still make 40-50 FPE.

Airguns are cheap to shoot,wonderful training tools, good for quiet plinking and small game (squirrel,rabbit) hunting but they are not as powerful as a 22LR.

And be careful, they are really addictive...

[thackney]

A 22LR will hit 100 FPE

I don't understand your units abbreviation.

The standard velocity .22 Long Rifle takes a wax coated 40 grain RN lead bullet to a muzzle velocity of 1,138 fps. (feet per second).

http://www.chuckhawks.com/22_rimfire_cartridges.htm

Decent quality 22 caliber Air Guns for ~$500 reach 1,000 fps.

http://www.airgundepot.com/rws-airguns-model-350-22-with-free-scope-mount-and-shooters-kit-amazing-950-fps.html

Of course this is a much lighter pellet, maybe 14 grains versus the 40 grains of the 22LR. But the original poster (BuffaloJack) said velocity, not energy.