The lyman thermometer and some others may not be dead on but as a comparative reading its okay. If your casting good bullets and the lyman is reading 725* then 725* at the next session is what you need/want. My lyman thermometer is used in this manner not as a dessive temp but as whats needed to be the same session to session.
Lyman ladles are good and work well. I have lyman rcbs and rowel ladles I use. The lyman and rcbs get the spouts opened up to .210 dia usually for a faster pour. The rowel is already large enough. The lyman is the smallest of the 3 and on my 2 cavity 550 grn mould holds enough for it. The rcbs is a little bigger and slightly different shape with a rib on the bottom. The roel is a #1 that holds a pound of alloy, A good ladle but due to spout desihn dosnt allow for pressure pouring. I cast with several 2 cavity moulds and have modified a rcbs to a double spout with the spacing centerline of the moulds. Really speeds things up filling both cavities at the same time. One pour 2 bullets. Also the alloy hasn't cooled any between the 2 cavities.