RE: 223 for daughter
I still think we are talking about basically the same thing. A bullet with more mass absorbs more of the initial energy from the powder burn. Velocity is a measure of energy. I expect, and it would likely take a physicist to determine the exact point, that there is a point where a larger, heavier, slower bullet; and a faster, smaller, lighter bullet, would provide the same amount of energy at impact.Both weight and velocity (as well as how the bullet mushrooms and holds together on impact) affect the amount of tissue damage done. That is one reason why the heavier arrow vs. faster arrow--which penetrates best--is always debatable. At the same speedof impact the heavier arrow will penetrate better (all other things being equal). Some people get good penetration with light arrows and I expect they have fast bows. Others shoot slow bows, but get great penetration with heavy arrows.
When you say"the bigger and faster, the more tissue damage", are you saying because of a deeper larger wound channel? I propose that the damage goes well beyond the wound channel. I've field dressed deer that had been double lung shot in which the lungs where basically destroyed beyond fragments. I've also seen deer with the same shot placement with a smaller caliber in which the lungs remained relatively intact.