Does the M&P9c get easier to rack as it gets used more. I'm buying one for my wife soon, but she had difficulty racking the gun at the gun shop as it was stiff. She looked at the Ruger SR9c (the only other striker fired with a safety on the left side), but liked the M&P better. Both were tough for her to rack, but the reason she liked the M&P better was that the safety was easier for her to work, and she wants an ambi safety because she shoots left-handed. Other than the stiffness, she really liked the gun. I'm hoping it loosens up a bit as you break it in.

It's all about technique.

What method is she using to rack the slide?

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Shorter recoil spring has more spring rate. Like how a lowered car rides stiffer. Same thing. I would say practice and break it in a bit. My wife had trouble with the 9mm shield at first but now its no problem. Even stiffer spring on that one!!

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MP40 442 SHIELD9 SHIELD40 MP22

Technique is a definite factor for some.
Some find it easier to criss-cross rack (for right handed: push gun left, while left hand pushes slide to the right with an overhand grip)[Edit: muzzle pointed safely down range], while others use a modified Slingshot (hold gun pointed forward close in front of the body, grab slide with thumb & forefinger pinch, then push pistol forward {rather than pulling slide back})

thecorneredcat.com is a great resource site for female shooters (and shooters in general)

+1 ^

My M&P9 FS got easier to rack than it was when NIB . . . but there's no way to know how often the one at your LGS was racked.

Using the above techniques, my medicare-wife who suffers from neuropathy, arthritis, and other debilitating issues can rack the M&P9FS now.

Incorrectly done, this results in pointing the gun at the left arm. I encourage beginners to point the gun down range, roll the gun toward the weak hand, grasping the slide, and use shoulders to push forward strong hand and pull back weak hand. Impossible to sweep own body that way.

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Science plus Art

Agreed. I do it not because there may be someone to the left of you that you're very close to aiming at . Or because you're awfully close to shooting you're own elbow. In a pressure situation, if you train with the muzzle pointed down range, the gun will always be pointed at your attacker so you don't lose time swinging the gun back and forth. And reaquiring the sights will be easier.

Which is also why I'm not a big fan of the slingshot method as you have to tip the gun sideways or hold it awkwardly if you want to keep it pointed down range.

So, if you don't like the criss-cross, or slingshot, how would suggest she rack the slide?

Even if the slide is already locked back, sweeping the slide release may not be an option, as she may not have the finger strength to do that initially.

and yes... If teaching criss-cross, the shooter MUST have good trigger finger discipline (keep it out of the trigger guard) and keep the pistol aimed safely down range (which probably means needing to turn sideways during the rack), but I'm talking range shooting, not 'pressure situations'.

I'm not trying to come across as confrontational, just curious as to how you'd suggest someone with grip strength issues become able to rack the slide of their new pistol.

It will get easier with time.

I noticed that it is much easier to rack if you keep the gun close to your body and push/pull fast.

My wife had a little trouble when she kept it too far from her body and racked it slowly.

But, after she kept it close and racked it quickly, she had no problem.

I am really disappointed to see this kind of advice coming from a military veteran and member of the NRA. If I saw someone doing this kind of amateur move while I was standing next to you at the range, we would have some words.

Really? Point the gun to the left and rack the slide? With a loaded weapon?

ours became easier also