BUG or MAG?

At this point in time, I carry a mag because I can't afford a bug. :( Another angle to consider is local laws: in New Mexico, you can carry as many guns as you like, but only one can be concealed. If you're not into open carry, then your decision just got made for you.
 
Guns are like parachutes...

...always carry one more than you think you'll need.

I usually don't need any gun, so I usually carry one. In my placid life, I don't usually worry about reloads or back-ups...

I think it also depends on your weapon. With a high-capacity weapon, I think reloading is less of a priority, whereas with a revolver or single-stack, a reload is a good idea.

I guess it's kind of apples-and-oranges, though. There are more reasons to carry a BUG than just the "New York Reload": Retention, mechanical failure and weak-hand draw come to mind.

The flip side is, do you want to suit up like Batman every time you walk out the door: Gun, ammo, BUG, cuffs, pepper, flashlight, knife, phone, badge, etc...
 
Neither

I almost never carry a spare mag, and I don't think a civilian really has a need for carrying a backup gun. You might WANT to carry it, but you don't need it.
 
I typically don't carry either, but will occassionally carry a spare mag; never a BUG.

I believe a spare mag is good for auto's just in case of a malfunction. I tend not to like the extra mag in my pants pocket and haven't gotten around to a belt-holder that I would want to wear everyday, so I usually go without unless I drop one in a jacket pocket.

Personally, though, I carry a revolver most of the time. I won't carry speed-loaders, but I do have a cartridge pouch and speed-strips which I will use from time to time, usually just throwing a speed-strip in my back pocket. I doubt I would ever need to reload, but it brings me to 14 rounds on my person, with 6 in the gun and 8 in the strip, plenty for the unlikely event I would ever need it (I should hope!)

There is just no place on my person for a BUG; I don't need that much crap on me.
 
I like to carry a 1911 and one mag for the main. Also have a S&W j frame on my ankle. I like to keep my options open.
 
You definitely made a valid point in the scenario that your primary CCW goes to crapper - however, the chance that happens is relatively small, don't cha think? Certainly, one would not risk their own life in the betting game of "nothing-is-gonna-go-wrong-with-my-gun" and would make most sense to carry a BUG (like a lot of LEOs) but the added weight, inconvience, time consumed to practice drills, and the extra expense make it quite unreasonable for a civilian to do so.

LEOs on the other hand; due to the natures of their job, carrying a BUG would be most beneficial to them seeing the chance of their primary self-defense-weapon goes to crapper is much higher than us civilians (statistically speaking most of us won't draw in our life time).

I usually only carry the CCW w/o extra mags or BUG - if you cannot deal with a scenario with 10+ rounds, good chance that you won't make it out unharm anyway.

I am typing at work in a very fast path...boss man don't like TFL or anything firearm related much...forgive me if there are grammical errors or so...:D
 
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If I am carrying a 5-shot revolver as my primary, I always carry a speedloader or speed strip, but even so I often carry my LCP .380 as a BUG. I know that the statistics say that a 5-shot snubby is enough for most encounters, but I am just superstitious enough that I like the added sense of security that comes with having that little .380 available if I need it.

When I'm carrying a semi-auto I usually just carry a spare magazine and I feel pretty good about it, but I have been known to slip my NAA .22 magnum mini-revolver into an available pocket. (Just for luck) ;)
 
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