Not likely to be a definitive
answer forthcoming.
Not one which receives a consensus, anyway.
My thoughts?
I carry a spare magazine.
Why?
Well, as others have already mentioned, the fastest and probably best way to resolve a magazine-related problem is with another magazine.
Think "It can't happen to me"? Hope you're right. Not my business, though.
I can offer the observation that over the course of many years of working our range, having watched a fair number of folks run through qualifications courses (both LE & CCW folks) I've seen a number of folks experience 'problems' which could have quickly been resolved with a fresh magazine ... and it's not just because their primary magazine ran dry, either.
Risk assessment and informed choice. Predictable is preventable. With the ability to make a choice comes the potential for exposing oneself to consequences. Etc., Etc..
Now, personally speaking, I have a caveat to my single spare magazine comment.
On-duty, working plainclothes, I generally carry a single spare, although I have an additional single AND a double spare magazine carrier (3 loaded magazines) available in my car, as well as a couple of boxes of spare ammunition. (Sometimes I'll choose to carry the double magazine carrier depending on my case activities.)
My uniform gun belt gear includes a triple magazine carrier. I've used double & quad carriers, as well.
Off-duty, it depends what weapon I'm carrying, the nature of my planned activities and how far I'll be from home. I'll at least carry a single spare magazine. Sometimes a couple. Just depends. The potential for needing the available ammunition is of about equal concern to having the ability to restore function should a magazine problem occur. FWIW, I carefully examine, clean and maintain my magazines ... but I wouldn't want to bet my life on ANY magazine being "MURPHY Proof", either.
Where & how do I carry the spare magazines? Lots of choices when it comes to gear selection. How well those gear choices fit any individual's needs and carry preferences (cover garments, for example) are best determined by the individual.
In my case, sometimes it's in belt carriers and sometimes it's in jacket pockets. FWIW, I also train to reach and access additional magazines from both my belt and my off-side pockets.
For those folks who would point out that this is a potential issue which could introduce confusion under stress ... you'll get no argument from me. I agree.
That's why I've trained that way a fair amount over the years. When I used to carry a service revolver I trained to reach for duty jacket pockets or pants pockets in the event I exhausted my belt's double speedloader ammunition load. This practice seemed a good idea to continue even after I transitioned to an issued 'high capacity' pistol, and that was about 18 years ago.
Kind of like how I've learned to perform a variety of movements and techniques under stress over the course of the last 37 years of my martial arts involvement. Depends on the circumstances of the moment.
Revolvers? Different situation. I generally carry at least a couple of speedstrips or speedloaders, if not more. Old habits.
Just my thoughts.
Oh, one additional comment.
I've long since ceased to be surprised by the low number of CCW folks who consider bringing a spare magazine to a CCW qualification range, and are baffled when they encounter magazine problems, often claiming to have never experienced such a problem. Wanna guess how many of the CCW folks in general claim to carry ANY spare magazines or ammunition?
Hey, their choice ...
