Added a second magazine after two years of carrying just one

For the first couple years I carried, I only carried a single magazine. My thinking was pretty simple. If I ever needed more ammunition than that, something had gone spectacularly wrong, then I started paying more attention to the equipment itself. The weak point in most semi-auto pistols isn't usually the gun. It's often the magazine, springs wear out, feed lips can get damaged or dirt finds its way into places you'd rather it didn't. Mechanical things occasionally decide today's the day they're going to act up and that changed how I looked at carrying a spare.

The way I think about it now is pretty straightforward. The first magazine is there because the pistol needs one and the second magazine is there because machines sometimes have bad days. I've had enough gear fail over the years to stop assuming that every piece of equipment will work perfectly forever.

12+1 and a extra 15 has pretty much been my go to for a long time ..... Or 8+1 with a extra 10 for a 1911

One afternoon, a mag just died on me mid-string. since then, I’ve always carried a spare.

That’s a pretty reasonable shift in thinking. A spare mag isn’t really about expecting a firefight, it’s more about covering the rare times gear doesn’t behave. Mechanical reliability is great right up until it isn’t.

One time my magazine just gave out on me mid-string, it just stopped working. Since then, I always carry a spare..it felt like it personally disrespected me.