Something new to learn, thanks, er, in a sense. There are also some conversion kits I believe, or a method by filing something down to allow full auto; tho at least 98% of American gun owners wouldn't want to do that, illegal for one, unwanted as a waste of ammo another (bullet costs about 50c to $1 each)
I wanted to (cautiously) post a couple wound pictures, with warnings, but alas those domains are blocked here at the library. Here's a USA today article/description from 2002 (still valid) from the beltway snipers:
Famous for its use in the military's M-16 rifle, the .223-caliber round is known for causing extensive tissue damage, says surgeon.. Like all high-velocity bullets, the .223 slug passes through the body with an accompanying shock wave that whipsaws blood vessels and organ tissue that are inches away from the bullet. The "cavitation," or cavity, caused by the high-velocity shock wave may briefly expand the diameter of the bullet hole almost 2 inches, about 10 times the width of the slug itself, before it collapses behind, tearing tissue further.
.. In contrast, low-velocity rounds used in many handguns pack less of a punch and follow a straighter path. "A bullet from a .22 rifle or .38-caliber handgun can go right next to the aorta and be all right," says Maier. "With a .223, if it gets within 3 inches, it's a disaster."
.. The shock wave damages soft tissue such as the brain immensely. Anyone receiving a head wound loses motor function almost immediately.. Soft organs such as the liver also fare badly; more elastic tissues such as the lungs or stomach survive the shock better {and adipose/fatty}.
Heavier bullets, such as those fired by the popular .30-06 hunting rifle, may deliver more of a punch, says rifle wound expert .. But "the .223 breaks up more than other bullets," After it hits someone, the .223 round tumbles and fragments as it punches deeper into the body, multiplying the damage.
If fired as a military round, with a "full metal jacket" {FMJ} of steel or copper covering the round, it may turn sideways and break in two after hitting someone. Because the sniper's bullets appear to have fragmented a great deal, it seems likely he is using hunting rounds
During the Vietnam War, surgeons learned that if soldiers reached the hospital alive, they often survived {well, DUH}. If the system responds quickly with paramedics or a helicopter lift to the hospital, the same may be true today {double DUH}
.. Surgeons systematically look for the largest bullet fragments and begin clamping torn blood vessels and repairing torn tissues, starting with the ones that cause the most bleeding. Occasionally that may mean removing an organ the victim can live without, like the spleen or a kidney.
Surgeons treating the sniper's victims face another challenge: They need to recover bullet fragments. "In general, we don't go after bullet fragments unless there is no risk,"
.. the fragments {could} represent important clues to still-unsolved murders, so the surgeons have carefully placed them into evidence bags for use in the investigation.
The aftermath In the weeks following surgery, patients face additional problems. There is the risk of infection and possible organ failure triggered by shock and blood loss.
http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/nation/2002-10-22-bullets-usat_x.htm
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