Protective cover for a lightening port

A protective system for a firearm with a lightening port, the protective system comprising:

• a barrel coupled to a frame;
• a slide having the lightening port removed therefrom, the slide being slideably attached to the frame;
• and
• an insert having plate with a perimeter, the perimeter being sized to allow a clearance fit within the lightening port, the insert further comprising:
• two wing walls each having a length, each of the wing walls being perpendicularly attached to the underside of the plate and parallel to each other, wherein the length of each wing wall extends beyond opposing points of the perimeter of the plate and under the slide when insert is inserted in the lightening port.

A protective insert for a port in a slide of a semiautomatic pistol, the port having an area and a vertical thickness, the insert comprising:

• a plate configured to have a clearance fit within the port;
• and
• four tangs protruding from the underside of the plate that extend in a direction that is collinear with the slide,
• wherein the plate is held within the port by a barrel of the semiautomatic pistol pushing against the plate.