I cast some Bullets from a pair of new LYMAN molds a few weeks ago. Went to lube&size them this past weekend. Cast from a #429667 4cav & a #429244GC 2cav. Used LYMAN#2 alloy that I purchased from ROTOMETALS last year. Put a RCBS .430dia size die into my old LYMAN 450 & started the 1st #429677. Felt no resistence when I pulled the handle down or up. When the bullet came up out of the die there was a thin film of lube coating the bullet.
UNDERSIZED ! After the same result with 5 more bullets, I switched TP and tried the #429244GC. The gaschecks wouldn't stay on the bullets, the shanks were all undersized. I was using my last batch of LYMAN slip on gaschecks. At $40 bucks a box + shipping, Hornady crimp-on gaschecks are an expensive option for me when I still have a full box of LYMAN. But to get on with it the the #429244GC popped out with a thin film of lube. UNDERSIZED AGAIN.
The #429667 mold was purchased less than 2 months ago, the #429244GC was purchased about 3yrs ago & not used until now.
The LYMAN#2 alloy was used to cast some LYMAN #429421 & RCBS #44-250-K this past spring & then sized in the same RCBS .430dia size die. No problems, both bullets sized as expected, clean, sharp & smooth driving bands & a well filled lube groove with some resistence on pulling down on the handle to push the bullet into the die.
I sent an email off to LYMAN to see what they'll do about these UNDERSIZED molds. Guess someone at LYMAN got lazy & used cutting CHERRY'S too long.
CORRECTION, I should have said I bought the #429244GC 3 months ago, NOT 3 years.
Long time Caster/Reloader, Getting back into it after almost 10yrs. Life Member NRA 40+yrs, Life S.A.S.S. #375. Does this mean a description of me as a fumble-fingered knuckle-draggin' baboon. I also drool in my sleep. I firmly believe that true happiness is a warm gun. Did I mention how much I HATE auto-correct on this blasted tablet.