Have used the RCBS on everything from 25cal to 45cal and works great. The nipple is on the bottom of the dipper when you turn the mold and dipper up-right to fill the cavity. My only bitch is that metal thingy at the front of wood has come loose and flops around. I've learned to ignore it.

All cast-iron dippers get covered with dross. The way to get it off is take the hot dipper and turn upside-down when in the lead and take the empty dipper out of the pot. Then hit it against something nice and hard and the dross will go flying. I use a coffee-can to catch the dross when I cast. Several raps of the hop dipper on the edge of same cleans it quite well. But, I always leave my dipper in the pot when not casting and that avoids any rust or cleaning issues (outta sight, outta mind ).

You can tap the accumulated lead off the dipper, as mentioned, or poke the end of a wax candle in the spout every now and then.  If it's really crudded up inside, a piece of wire or a nail can be used.

The pour from the bottom ladle is the Rowell.  I got a couple of the one-pounders (the smallest size they offer) and they work as advertised, pouring clean metal out the spout from the bottom while the lighter dross stays on top in the ladle.  However, they don't have a spigot like the Lyman and RCBS, so if you use one, you have to pour from the side, like using a Lee dipper.

The only successful casting I've been able to do by pouring from the side is round balls for muzzleloaders.  Maybe a muticavity bullet mould with a trough along the sprue holes would work this way, but I find it hard to get decent bullets in the regular type of mould with one of these ladles.  Not to mention the weight, which gets tiresome pretty quickly.  The Rowells have long handles as well, increasing the apparent weight of the end.  I use my Rowells to make ingots from salvaged lead; here they really shine.  One ladleful per ingot, quick and easy, and the dross never goes into the ingot mould.

I would think that pouring bearings or other large scale lead foundry work would be a great place for a Rowell.  But for small scale casting of small bullets, a smaller dipper with a spigot is the way to go.

I use an RCBS for big bullets or multiple cavity moulds and a Lyman for smaller stuff and single cavities.

Guys, Thanks for the info & suggestions. Think I will try an RCBS dipper next. Anyone interested in a near new Mag 20?

          Sendaro

Ya know, You can remove all that extemporaneous mechanics from your bottom pour pot, plug the spout with a screw and pretend it never was a bottom pout pot.
Bill

Check out the dippers available from (You need to Login or Register to view media files and links)

Checked them out and they are a lot bigger that what I need. Thanks for the info.

                     Sendaro

Lyman handles wear out after 40 or so years.