Jeff,
I have only shot a few crows with the 17 gr. bullets. I mainly use the 20 grain CCI Game Points. They just seem to drop them better, in my experience anyway, plus they shoot good.
As to a poof of feathers, I really don't see that. Normally when the rifle cracks, the crows just go straight down.
Aiming point for me is wherever I can get a good body shot. I don't shoot for the head.
Seems we both think alike about wanting some video. I've been wanting to do that for some time, but it's difficult to get it on video and be a one-man-show. Since I normally hunt alone, it's just too difficult to do.