[MissH]

What exactly does the .223 mean in terms of the Bushmaster? Is that they type of amo or the power of the gun - how many rounds are shot per second?

[EricT.]

It’s the diameter of the projectile, or caliber. This rifle shoots bullets that are 0.223 inch in diameter.

[atomic_dog]

223 is slang for a round that evolved from the brand name "223 Remington." Most of the bullets loaded in that round are usually .224 diameter. That round is almost the same (but not exactly) as the standard military rifle round "5.56mm X 45mm" sometimes referred to as "556 NATO." There is SAAMI warning against shooting 5.56 in a 223 but most modern firearms can handle both. The Ruger Mini-14 is stamped "CAL. .223 but the chamber is actually a 5.56.

[IMG]http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j302/rpwhite55/guns/223v556.jpg[/IMG]