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Hey Irv,
Like LHB1, I use a standard RCBS 3 die set where the third die seats and crimps the bullet in one operation. I, too, have never found any need for any of the Lee Factory Crimp Dies.
A lot of folks report that they seat and crimp their bullets in two steps instead of one. I have been loading bullets for 50 years, and I have always been able to properly seat and crimp my bullets with the same die in one step. I think the problem for a lot of folks is that they simply have never been taught how to properly adjust a regular seating and crimping die. After reading some of their posts on the subject, it is clear they have no idea of how a regular seating and crimp die works.
I also suspect that a lot of these folks are the ones who jump into reloading with a progressive press and all the bells and whistles, yet they never actually spent any time learning how to reload bullets with an experienced reloader on a single stage press. Oh, and they also don't bother to buy any manuals because they can get all they need to know from the internet. That is really a tough way to learn and an easy way to make some bad mistakes.
As far as the bullet goes that you have pictured, the dark band toward the bottom of the bullet is a grease groove (obviously filled with grease), and the thinner groove near the top of the bullet is a crimping cannelure. I cast a different gas checked bullet for my 44 Mag use, but my bullet has the same type of crimp groove near the top of the bullet. When I adjust my seating/crimping die properly, the die will roll crimp the top of the case mouth right into the top of that crimp groove. The same thing is true for my .357 Mag bullets.
Best wishes,
Dave Wile
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