Home Forums Reloading Bullet Casting Lyman Mag 25

Does anyone have the Lyman Mag 25 furnace and if so how you like it.

My old Lyman furnace purchased in 1971 gave up two years ago. I purchased a Mag 20 and it has not performed well, freezing spout, poor temp control, real pain in the butt.

I'm considering a Mag 25 but have not been able to find much feedback.

Thank, AJ

I had a similar experience AJ. The issues you are having with the Lyman Mag 20 are the same ones I had. I never had any problems with my old Lyman 10 pound pot, so I was surprised.

I solved the problem by going to a 20 pound RCBS Pro Melt stainless steel lined pot. After I used it about 15 years, the thermostat went out. I sent it to RCBS and it came back good as new. But I STILL LIKE the Lyman mold guide better.

I have not used the Lyman Mag 25, so I don't know how it works. All the best.

Spout freeze on the Mag 20 is common. Go with the RCBS, you won't be sorry.

I have the Lyman Mag 25 - I'd say good enough when bought right - there have been concerns about the electronics over heating especially on heat soak after shut off with a full pot of hot lead. I haven't had any such problems and maybe like a lot of off-shore products QA is left for the customer? At the same price I would have bought the RCBS. On sale the Lyman is a bargain in the field.

Depending on the molds used, all the more with hollow point plugs and the rest it may be necessary to modify the mold guide.

I am kicking this one back to the top to see if we can get a little more feedback.

I had a small cast bullet business about thirty years ago and used two Lyman Mag 20's with no problems while casting maybe around a million bullets. I eventually sold my business, and the furnaces were still going strong. I am reading here and elsewhere that a lot of folks were not as lucky as I was pertaining to the serviceability of the Mag 20, now replaced by the Mag 25.

I am about to invest in another furnace and it pretty well comes down to the Mag 25 and the RCBS Pro-Melt. I know that Creeker prefers the Pro-Melt, but I am interested in why? My experience with the Lyman furnace was good but I don't want to buy a potential problem. On the other hand, the Pro-Melt costs about $120.00 more than the Mag 25 in real world money. Is it worth the difference? And why?

i've had the lyman mag. 25 for quite awhile has always worked perfectly.

Ed

I don't use the Lyman furnace, but have noticed quality of pretty much everything else they make has really gone downhill lately (maybe the past 10 years or so?). I'd be surprised if their furnaces were not included in that. Quality of their bullet molds has gotten especially spotty.

Bought one a couple months ago to replace a lee 10 Lb. pot. Only poured 500 or so bullets so far but it worked fine. I do need to modify the guide to fit my NOE mold.

Once upon a time I did a poll of my customers, many of who cast, & asked them which furnace used. I also asked on various forums. The RCBS was preferred by far over the Lyman. The foremost complaint with the Lyman was spout freeze. It's my understand this problem was addressed.

And to my friend in Western Kentucky I wouldn't discourage you from purchasing a Lyman as my poll is old enough [mostly 2003-2007] it may not be relevant. And for truth in advertising I've owned neither. My first pot was a 10 pound Saeco/Redding & my present pot is a 40 pound Magma.

If you chose the Lyman please give us a full report. Being you once operated cast bullet business & know of what you speak your opinion would carry a lot of weight.

Bought the Lyman Mag 25 a couple months ago to replace my old Lee 10# pot. Has been great with zero problems.

Don

Thanks for your reply, Creeker. My use with the new furnace will be to cast maybe 30,000 bullets a year at the most. Due to my age (73) I may not have to worry about wearing out either the Pro-Melt or the Mag 25, but trouble free would be nice. Also, due to a fixed income, price is also important. I think I am going to try the Lyman for that reason as well as a few other features. I will definitely report back after use.

Thanks Doug.

Just got the new Mag 25 furnace from Lyman. I have spent the last two days melting pure lead (about 125 lbs.) and pouring into ingot molds. Gonna alloy with some tin and Rotometal's Super Hard added (as per USSR1991's suggestion. Then I'll cast a couple of thousand 250 grainers out of the new furnace. I'll give a little feedback afterwards.