#1. Cycling the slide is a technique thing. I have seen seven year old girls cycle a hammer down 1911 with an 18.5# spring. It is almost ALL in the technique.
#2. My wife shoots some and has shot my shield and her model 60 pro (3" barrel). She shoots the revolver quite a bit better than the shield, and she prefers it to the shield. She also shoots it better than a Glock 17.
