[Hoof Hearted]

Are you serious?
Sure 22 ammo is cheap - and has a range of over 1 mile, so even if you miss the bird you are shooting at, there's still a pretty good chance you'll still kill someone or something before the bullet lands.
Of course, you could use a shotgun which would kill many more of the crows you are shooting at and would not pose a danger for those downrange, but those shotgun shells are much more expensive than those 22's.

[Abcdefg]

How about .22 short sub-sonic? Also cheap and fun.

[nothingnew]

When I first started hunting, circa 1970, we'd go out before the real season and "practice" on crows, and corn farmers in CT would pay $.50 a piece...Lottsa fun and payed for most of the ammo...(12 and 20 gauge in Browning autos)

FMCDH

[B4Ranch]

"so even if you miss the bird you are shooting at, there's still a pretty good chance you'll still kill someone or something before the bullet lands."

Hunters do not use rifles to shoot flying birds just because of your worries. Safe shooting includes knowing what the backstand of your target is.