I went to the range today fully expecting to put 50 rounds through my M&P M2.0 9mm 5" barrel just like I did last week without incident. After two rounds the third round sounded different, I felt some exhaust(?) gas on my right wrist but I hit the target just fine. When I went to shoot the 4th round the trigger was basically non functional. The spent cartridge was half ejected. I'll skip to the significant findings. I found the plug on the right side where the thumb safety would be if I had one had fallen into the slide and was interfering with the mechanism therein. I got the gun home and put the plug back in place. I thought it weird that it didn't snap in place rather it was just held in there by friction by pressing it in place. I checked some youtube videos and they all basically said the same thing, you just press it in place. Well three dry fires later and the plug once again fell into the area below the slide (which has lots of linkages) and now I can't remove the slide so the gun has a half open chamber. Is this making sense?
I called S&W they emailed a shipping label and the gun is on the way to them for repair. The gentleman I spoke with said this isn't a common thing. Did I purchase a defective weapon? I've attached a pic of the part I'm talking about. Currently it's an empty rectangular hole in the side of my gun. Any insight appreciated.
J

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The plug occupies the hole in the frame when an ambi-safety is not included with the gun. In theory the gun should work fine without that plug occupying the space, but debris and dirt can more easily enter. Or you can add an ambi-safety which make the plug unnecessary.

There is a correct way to put the thing in, although from what I recall it isn't very intuitive.

Not defective handgun, just bad plug.
When plugs are mounted correctly they sit tight. Actually they have to be snapped into the frame.
The problem with right plus is, that there is nothing keeping it on place, just tension from the frame, so if the plug is bad, it may fly out during shooting.

Definitely you need new plug.

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Thank you. When I replaced the plug I couldn't get it to snap into place that's for sure. Glad it's not the gun. All the best. J

That's a potentially disastrous malfunction . I have 6 M&Ps. All of which have the frame plugs installed. I would hate for one of the plugs to pop out and wedge behind the trigger bar in a serious time of need. Hope you get the issue resolved

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If you never intend to install a manual safety, a drop of superglue on the contact surface of the frame and the plug should keep it in place.

That was the first symptom I noticed, the trigger moved but wouldn’t release the striker.. The part then moved to block the slide from moving at all. J

Gorilla Glue that little plug in place !
Gary

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Rather than start a new thread I'll continue this one.
I returned the gun the S&W for repair. They notified me they had received it and 30 days later I get a notification from FedEx that a 2 pound package is on it's way from S A W. This is great except that I never received a notification from S&W that the gun was on it's way back? Is this the way they do it? I fear they may just be returning it unrepaired. Any insight appreciated. J

This is the way they work. Of the few repairs I’ve sent them they’ve never notified they’re sending it until it get a FedEx notice.

Most likely it’s repaired under warranty. They’re excellent about honoring warranties whether you’re the original purchaser or 10th.

Excellent. I suppose I can just wait for the parcel to arrive but being anal as I am I thought I'd throw the question out there. You've put my mind at ease. Thanks much, J

I don't remember S&W sending notice but I'm sure it will be repaired . The work order will only say repaired.

A tiny drop of testers or any plastic modelers glue works wonders on that plug . My wife using this stuff and I added a tinny amount spread very thin amount on an older m&p full size on the inside . Others have thumb safetys . .

I should apply it along the perimeter of the plug on the inside? I don’t want to remove the plug. J

If this happens to anyone in the future, there is an easy way get the slide off in that situation. Flip the pistol over so you are looking at the bottom of the weapon. Push forward (toward muzzle) on the white plastic shroud around the striker with a pick or small screw driver to relieve pressure on the back plate on the slide. While doing this, lift the back plate off the slide, then press the silver striker safety plunger on the inside (bottom) of the slide and the striker will pop out a little bit. Pull it out all the way and then the slide should come right off. As an Armorer for a large LE Agency, I have had to do this many times, especially when our ham handed officers push the sear disconnect lever down too far and lock it up. Like others have said, glue the plug back in place and you will be good.

A good reason why one should forsake any gun with a plug and insist on an ambidexterous safety. Those holes are there for a reason and it AIN'T for a plug. If you can't bear to be seen as a kitty with a safety on your gun, then stake it in the fire position with a wedge and some glue

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I’ve bought several used guns that had issues when I tried shooting them- trading it in is an easy way for non-mechanical people to get rid of a troublesome gun. They don’t tell the shop it’s broken, and the shop sometimes doesn’t clean then, and almost never test fire them.

I have been able to fix most of mine except my 617 that had a cracked frame. S&W fixed that one