Gentlemen!
You DON'T rack the slide to chamber a round. You push forward the lever on the left side of the gun, just above the magazine release. The barrel then springs up and you put a round in the chamber. You unload the same way and NEVER have to grip that tiny slide and drag it to the rear against the hefty recoil spring.
BTW, usually when you pop the barrel up with a round in the chamber, it flings the round out of the gun onto the floor. Restrain the barrel and let it open slowly to avoid this.
you beat me to it. My understanding is the same. Beretta 22 is the same way.It's my understanding that this isn't going to go away. But you are missing one aspect of the PT22's usage. While the barrel is tipped up, insert a round into it. Since it's DAO, with a round already in the chamber, you won't have to pull the slide back.