I have an AR-15 and Mini-14.  I understand that traditionally FMJ is the bullet of choice for combat and self-protection from these guns.  And, I have ample supply of it.  However, I also have quite a bit of soft-point ammunition.  Are .223 soft-point ammo useless in social-situations?  Would I be putting myself at risk if I use these for protection/defensive situations?  

Thank you

Soft point(SP) for home protection actually isn't a bad idea. You find SP used in applications when it matters where the bullet ends up after it goes through the target. FMJ has the ability to travel through wall(s) and can end up who knows where after being fired through a soft target. Last thing a SWAT team or other law enforcement agency needs is innocent bystanders being struck by a .223 round fired by an officer after it goes through the siding of a house or other seemingly "solid" object. Using that same thought process.....where do you think a FMJ round could end up after you fire it at a home intruder? Sheetrock doesn't stop bullets very well and could very easily travel into one of your loved ones bedrooms while they are laying in bed. Just stuff to think about.....a lot of this is covered in the thread Zhukov posted