Yep mine is a plain base as well. I will give the straight COWW a try with a touch of tin added and also give it plenty of time to heat up before I fire up the lead pot.
With the added PID on the Lee 4-20, I have it set to around 725'ish, and once I turn it on it starts off with the pot on the highest setting, then backs down the juice as it gets close. Once there it will maintain within about a 10 degree spread unless I add the sprue back in. Even then it only takes about 5 minuted to bring it right backup.
My back is out of whack right now and i ain't gettin round as good as I should be. Might have buldged another disc down around L4 or 5. I did 3 and 5 a couple of years back at the same time and it put me off work for over two months. This is the same feeling just not quite to the extreme as the last was. I have an appointment with a neurologist tomorrow to find out for sure.
Don't worry, it doesn't hamper me actually pouring the bullets, only getting over to, and then bending down, to pick up the ingots I want to use. And of course those are on the back side of the shop slightly up under the edge of the table. I did however find a box of mystery metal ingots that I negated to mark sitting right here inside the door and easily within reach. I checked them yesterday on the Cabine Tree an they hit right in the ball park for WW alloy. So those will be what I start with.
Beagle, I would be more than happy to send you enough of a sample of them if you want to try before you buy. You will have to add in the cute little HP on them individually.
Just let me know if you want to give them a run, and in which caliber, 38 or 357, and I can adjust the alloy a pinch for the higher velocity if you so choose. They were dropping around 359 - 360", so I can also size them or simply send them as cast. Just let me know...