Hey guys looks like not many have opinons about furnaces. The over view I get off the boards is the RCBS is the best overall.
The spout freeze with the Lyman comes when using a couple moulds at once and having to add lead fairly quick. This isn't much of a problem for the low volumn caster.
Seems 99% of the Lee production pot users I've spoken with have leaky pots.
I have always recomended a bottom pour furnace over ladle casting, especially for the novice. I just feel it's easier, quicker, and not near the mess. I'm not knocking ladle casters so please don't get me wrong. Some of my best friends are ladle casters, HEE HEE.
Boondocker the bottom pour pots will work fine with double and four cavity moulds. You have only to move the mould to fill each cavity. The Magma pots we use have an interchangeable orifice for either single pour or double pour. The double works for two or 4 cavity moulds.
Poodleshooter I think you'll find the iron moulds from Lyman and others easier to use simply because they are easier to close. I use a Lee mould here in the hollow and know you can make good bullets with them so I'm not knocking Lee users but for speed and production use, IMHO they are just too fragile.
Cheygriz I started with a Saeco 10 pound pot. It worked great for 25 years but was just too small.
Shadow if you need something larger you might try two 20 pounders or take a serious look at the Magma Master Pot. It's a 40 pounder that heats quickly. I have no trouble running three 4 cavity or four 2 cavity moulds under it and adding the alloy as I go along. It keeps all up to temp. just fine.