The slide is quite a bit harder to pull back than my p95. It's really hard when a bullet is being ejected into the chamber. Is this normal because it is so compact or because of the size of the .45 cal ammo?? It just seems like it shouldn't be that hard to pull back, even though the guy at the gun shop said it was.
No telling how long it sat there for sale.....where did you get it? Pannell's? If it was sitting out it probably has dust, try cleaning and oiling it. Are you pulling the slide back and letting it go?