My compact is great, as to cocking it, as its an ssp, the effort is not bad at all. Just rest the pistol on your lap, or a chair, and push down onto the top section, and it closes quite easily as you "lean" on it with your weight.
The PR45 isn't the same as it's not got an adjustable trigger, and it makes a lot of difference.
I've also done a trigger adjustment mod which works well, and being a "relatively" light pistol, the trigger pull doesn't interfere with the accuracy as much as before.
Russ
Air Arms S400 Classic - Hawke Airmax 3-9x40 AO MAP6, SMK QB78 DL - JSR 4x40 Mildot ill.El Gamo ASI sniper, BSA Airsporter MkVI. UBC#22 - Sheridan EB22, Gamo Compact:R77-4:Falcon, Walther PPK, CP88 shiney, SMK G10, Baikal 53M:MAK, Crosman 357