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I started shooting with a .357 revolver. My hubby bought a S&W semi-auto, and you should have seen me trying to rack the slide......wasn't happening. I have very large hands for a female (I lay that one at my dad's door, as he has huge hands) and strong fingers (I'm a flutist and organist) but not strength in my lower arms nor overall hand strength. A few months ago, I bought a Beretta Storm 9mm (I did rent multiple guns at the range before I selected this one. Some I had a real hard time moving the slide, some I didn't). I brought it home, and started with the circus act of trying to rack the slide. Initially, I thought I had made a big mistake, however, with time I can now do it. I now own 4 semi-autos, the largest being a Beretta 92, and I now have no trouble moving the slide on any gun. I had to build up a little hand strength and learn what worked for me. It took a while. Perhaps starting with a semi-auto 22lr pistol might help, the one I have has a very small, easy to move slide, then work up from there.