I picked up my new 85 combat today
Welcome & congrats on your new toy.
just an FYI and warning. People usually cant just stop at one CZ, so you are forwarned!
1) the slide release has a ton of resistance. I cannot operate it with my thumb alone. I am not very small, I don't think my grip strength is the problem. Will this get better or what?
Yes they can be hard to operate! It will vary with gun too. Hard is relative also. whats hard for you is easy for me or someone else. its your first gun so expect things to be new and unfamilary to you! Just like your first time driving you realy dont know how hard to press the accelerator or break pedal to make the car do what you want it to do right?
2) likewise, the hammer is very resistive. I can operate the hammer with my thumb but not without holding the gun in both my hands.
again, its new and you have no idea or reference to what it takes for the gun to what it needs to do. Same for the Single Action (SA) part. Is the trigger suppose to be that heavy or light on SA mode? the same for the Double Action (DA) mode. the same can be said. Yes you maybe strong for your size, but the gun doesnt know that. its a machine and is made the way its made.