Primer Drag?

[.308 Norma]

After reading and watching a bunch of YouTube reviews, and then actually handling and checking over several different “micro” and/or “sub-compact” 9mm pistols, I recently bought myself a Springfield Armory Hellcat. I like it, it’s been 100% reliable so far, it seems quite accurate, and even though it’s a bit “snappier” than I’m used to, I didn’t buy a small 9mm for a so called “range gun.”
Anyway, one of the first things I noticed was the weird looking marks on the primers in the ejected cases. And when I saw them, I remembered a comment a guy in one of those YouTube reviews made about “primer drag” just being “the nature of the beast” when it comes to little pistols. He also said, “It’s nothing to worry about unless it breaks the firing pin or the striker.”
So, my questions are: first, can anyone explain why primer drag is the “nature of the beast” when it comes to little pistols, and second, why is primer drag "nothing to worry about" unless it breaks the firing pin or the striker? I’m mean, if there’s a possibility primer drag could break my pistol’s firing pin or striker, isn’t that something I should at least be concerned about in an up-close and personal self-defense pistol?
I have a few larger 9mm semi-autos, and even a full sized 45ACP 1911. None of them show any signs of “primer drag.” What makes “micro pistols” different? Thanks.

Most of these are Sellier & Bellot factory loads, but the lower right one was a Winchester factory load. They all show the same "primer drag" marks.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

Primer drag is caused by the gun unlocking early, before the firing pin has time to retract. Small guns have less available space to unlock and therefore unlock faster. A stiffer firing pin spring may cure the problem -- if it doesn't create another one, misfires due to cushioning the firing pin. It is definitely something to worry about in a carry gun.

 

[Reinz]

I totally agree with Vern.

Another way to look at is that the firing pin spring and recoil spring are not “matched”.

 

[.308 Norma]

Primer drag is caused by the gun unlocking early, before the firing pin has time to retract. Small guns have less available space to unlock and therefore unlock faster.

Thanks Vern! You explained what's going on in simple enough terms that even I can understand.

It is definitely something to worry about in a carry gun.

Thanks for that too, even though it wasn't something I wanted to hear.
I guess I'll just hang onto the Hellcat for a while, and if it hasn't any severe problems by the time I've run 400-500 rounds through it, I'll start carrying it when I want to carry something really small. Until then, I'll just keep on carrying my Glock 19.

 

[JTQ]

For what it's worth, here's a comment from the late Stephen A. Camp regarding a SIG P220 https://www.hipowersandhandguns.com/Corbon .45 ACP.htm

The telltale firing pin "wipe" is present on the primer fired in the SIG-Sauer. This is typical and to be expected. The SIG-Sauer pistols purposely have a bit slower firing pin retraction to help thwart debris from entering the firing pin channel.

 

[Riomouse911]

Some guns show signs of this.

If it’s been 100 pct reliable with enough of your expected carry loads to show reliability, I wouldn’t mess with much.

Should you change carry loads, shoot enough of your new load to do the same.

Stay safe.