I've only been at this for a couple months...this forum has got me doing great now. From my rookie experience I had the same problem with 4 cavity brass molds. I finally jumped the alloy heat up to 800f (426c) and dropped the lead in the mold with more volume to fill it up faster. Of course mold pre-heat is the norm.
That can be caused from dross on the bottom of the pot or dipper when pouring.. or other ash.. etc.
I looked on our acronym or abbreviation chard for "PP", but no list. What is PP?
The pics show a mold that is too cold and possibly alloy too cold. Lyman 2 should cast like a dream. I cast with a mix of about 95/2.5/2.5 which i half "richness" of Lyman 2 and I set pot temp to 635F and I pre-heat my molds. I cast the first 5 drops of the mold fast and furious and cull those. Then drop keepers at a steady no too slow rate. Doing so, I do not get mirror bright boolits, but rather a modest frost which I like for powder coating. The rich blend of Sn and Sb of Lyman #2 is not as condusive to shiny boolits as is more pure lead, but it makes GREAT boolits!
ps
Thank for your replies, "PP" stands for "Paper Patch" bullets.
PP = Paper Patch
You are casting in the 680 F to 716 F range. I would bring up the temp to 750 F or bit higher (400 C) and see how that works.
Next time I'll try to clean the Lee pot more accurately before starting to make new bullets, also I'll try to flux better and a bit higher temps.
Higher temps help, and a warmed mold
Keeps first few drops from flash freezing. And ash removal REALLY helps... Can make a mottled or matte finish.( not to be mistaken for frosting which are too hot molds..etc ).
BP | Bronze Point | IMR | Improved Military Rifle | PTD | Pointed |
BR | Bench Rest | M | Magnum | RN | Round Nose |
BT | Boat Tail | PL | Power-Lokt | SP | Soft Point |
C | Compressed Charge | PR | Primer | SPCL | Soft Point "Core-Lokt" |
HP | Hollow Point | PSPCL | Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" | C.O.L. | Cartridge Overall Length |
PSP | Pointed Soft Point | Spz | Spitzer Point | SBT | Spitzer Boat Tail |
LRN | Lead Round Nose | LWC | Lead Wad Cutter | LSWC | Lead Semi Wad Cutter |
GC | Gas Check |