I've seen a spine shot with a .223 and it wasn't a problem. The deer went down and was struggling to get up like you see with anything else. Never seen a shoulder shot so I (personally) can only speculate there. Be nice to hear more on that topic. My guess is that the copper TSX would make it through... but guessing and seeing are mutually exclusive.
Edit: for those interested, it doesn't look like the TSX is the miracle bullet in every case. This is for 30cal but would also apply to 223:
http://www.longrangehunting.com/forums/f84/barnes-triple-shock-disappointment-62461/
and in the reviews (mostly good) there are a couple failures also listed:
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/83...in-hollow-point-boat-tail-lead-free-box-of-50
Looks like some trouble with the TSX as well (which was surprising):
"First hog was not recovered due to no blood and ran further than 100 yards. All I found was a hunk of pork laying on the ground where it was shot.
Next up were 2 deer opportunities with the same results of no blood and hours of searching. Since this was unacceptable I bought some 60gr Blem soft point Blems and was getting sub MOA and built my confidence with squirrel head shots out to 120 yards. The next four deer were harvested with this combo with much better results for blood on the one that ran 20 yards and the others were DRT. I was also able to buy 200 bullets for less than 60% of this box of 50!"
and another on that same 70gr:
"After reading reviews in this column I decided to try these whitetail hunting this year. Accuracy was good with my RRA predator rifle with r-15 powder max loads, no pressure signs. Shot a 140 lb doe from a tree stand at 60yds. Bullet shattered the shoulder blade upon entry angled down through both lungs. Found the bullet under the hide on the opposite side. Not one drop of blood, deer ran 50 yards and dropped, still no blood. Bullet did a nice job, no blood bothers me."
and some other midway reviews on the 62gr:
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/59...e-box-of-50?cm_vc=ProductFinding#ReviewHeader
"Believed what I read, big mistake, these bullets shoot well but are way underpowered for big northern deer, hit one big Doe twice in kill zone behind shoulder, deer laid down after hit but didnt bleed out tracked 4 miles in 4 hour period, one of the only deer I ever lost, this is a varmint round !!"
and another notes a lack of expansion (.22 entrance and exit holes):
"I Loaded some of these up for my daughter to hunt deer with an AR. the day she did not go out I hunted with the AR. One shot on a nice size doe and she ran about 50 yds and died. There was absolutely no blood trail at all in the snow. if she had run into the swamp I would have thought I missed due to lack of blood. The entrance and exit holes were a nice .22 cal and very hard to find. I actually did not locate them until I gutted the deer and found them from the inside. Nice pass thru just behind the shoulder and the bullet completely destroyed the internals, Looked like they had run thru a blender. BUT still I will not use or recommend this bullet to anyone that is not hunting open fields where they can watch the deer run due to the lack of blood trail. My 30 cal rifles leave a hole big enough for 2 fingers in and out with silvertips and there is LOTS of blood to follow. I will stick with the bigger is better solution here and get her a 30AR."
I guess bullet failure is one more factor to add to the list that could make 223 a marginal round. Looks like most of the reviews are success stories.
These bulk Hornady 55gr SP's have only a few reviews pertaining to deer but all of them listed were success stories:
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/11..._vc=ProductFinding#pr-header-back-to-top-link
The others I've seen recommended as commonly as the TSX are Partitions (seen one and it was in a few pieces inside the deer), and Sierra 65gr Game Kings. I didn't see anything negative with the 65gr Game King reviews. But that doesn't mean that it's not out there somewhere:
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/19...-box-of-100?cm_vc=ProductFinding#ReviewHeader
This guy does gel tests on:
Hornady 55gr Spire Point
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xKWojqtvHnE
Impact velocity: 3,014 fps
Penetration: 10.7"
Retained weight: 26.9 gr
Max expansion: 0.425"
Min expansion: 0.335"
and
Sierra 65gr Game King:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DoRQzea-t0g
Impact velocity: 2,736 fps
Penetration: 10.3"
Retained weight: 33.3 gr
Max expansion: 0.591"
Min expansion: 0.364"
They look to have similar performance (penetration, weight retention, expansion was similar). I don't think 10.5" ish penetration is encouraging. I'd guess that's a no pass through in most cases.
For comparison (if there is one) here's a 30-06 165gr Game King:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wd7pImWDclg
Penetration: 16" (about 6" deeper than .223 game king which would mean through the deer on a broadside shot in most normal cases)
Retained Weight: 80% or 132gr
Max expansion: .92"