OK I got ready to resize about 500 38spl nickel cases. Along about 100 it hit me in my swiss cheese memory that the die was not carbide. Not a single case had given me any trouble going in or coming out. What risks do I run either for the die or brass other than sticking one if I do the rest without lube?

You have been real lucky so far, my guess is that you will stick one very soon without the lube. Worst case, you could tear a case in half attempting to pull it out. That could really be a pain.

The Hornady pistol dies use a Titanium Nitride sizing ring that is extremely hard almost like carbide.....it requires very little lube.....
Not sure what dies you're using but the requirements generally for pistol cases are less than rifle cases......but some lube is always required.

quote:

The Hornady pistol dies use a Titanium Nitride sizing ring that is extremely hard almost like carbide.....it requires very little lube.....

They were RCBS I have Nitride dies as well. I did pull my head out and switch to my Lyman carbide sizer. Just couldn't believe I actually did 120+ and didn't stick one. Bet the nickel plating helped.

Pistol cases rarely seize in a die hard enough to pull the rim off. But you still need to lube your cases tho.

Rubbing two dry pieces of metal together under pressure causes "galling", in which microscopic bits of the softer metal adhere to the harder as if wielded. Those bits will grow as they grab more metal from succesive cases. Eventually the bits can make scratches deep enough to cause case splits when it's fired!

Most people who think their size die is scratched actually have galled brass instead.

Lube is good.