I recently bought a Lee .223 Factory crimp. I was just wondering how heavy a crimp would be suggested for a varmit style AR?

I have crimped about 20 to test, and it appears that the crimp is actually into the bullet. I am wondering if this is to tight.

How deeply you crimp is up to you. I crimp lightly, but not too lightly. I want the bullet to stay put. You must remember that a crimp causes an increase in starting pressure; a heavy crimp can cause pressures to skyrocket in that first 2 or 3 millisecnds of ignition. Look at some new military stuff and adjust your crimping to closely approximate theirs.

I have also found that crimping, rotating the shell a third of a turn and lighlty crimping again eliminates the little burrs around the case mouth caused by the fingers in the crimper.

Know the problem, fully crimpt leaves a ring around the bullet. How much to use?
I solved that problem by not doing it at all.
John L.

I now keep my .223, .308, and 8mm Lee rifle factory crimp dies in the same box with my Bo Peel Pocket Fisherman in the attic.

I still use the Lee pistol factory crimp.