First, If you run your melt too cool, it'll freeze when it hits your sprue plate.
This happened to me after I got spooked that it was running too hot and I turned down the burner. It had me wondering, for a few minutes, why the world stopped working right. Cranked the heat back up and everything fell back into place.
Second, I found out that I did need a lubrisizer. I thought I didn't, but scored a Lyman 45 a while back because the price was right. Well, the .431 die came in today and I got 'er set up. Now that I've used one, I realize I needed one all along. Production rate probably quadrupled, and no beeswax and stuff on my fingers!