I really can’t answer yes or no, as an instructor I don’t recommend either way.
I don’t see the necessity for it if your EDC is well maintained and has proven to be reliable.
But, I don’t tell students, no don’t carry a BUG. It’s a personal preference.
So if the question were, “Do you carry a BUG whenever legally possible?” My answer to that would be no.
Hard to answer…and these answers shouldn’t be taken as recommendation.
Carrying BUG is just personal preference, not Instructors or teacher advice.
Don’t see the point of it all the time. When revolvers were king some folks cared 2 or 3 as it. was quicker than reloading. Now a days have a car weapon & a carry weapon mostly.
I carry 2 semi autos everyday, for the simple fact of my main decides to identify as a paperweight, then I have a backup. Some call me paranoid, to be honest I’d rather have it and not need it, than need it and not have it.
I’m with @Jerzees and @Fizbin. I don’t “recommend” it. I don’t carry a backup gun. But I’m not against it. Which leads to the second question, whatever they are comfortable with. I would say this, if someone was inclined to carry a backup, I would carry in the same caliber.
Wild, highly unlikely scenario time. Your primary has a catastrophic malfunction. Rack, tap, ain’t fixing it. Your forced to your secondary. Your pinned down, empty mags for the secondary, full mags from your primary. Reload your secondary, with the primary guns Ammo. Yes, I know how far fetched this scenario is!
Personal preference, I don’t carry a BUG, for 2 reasons. #1, I shoot and maintain my EDC often. #2, I carry pepper spray and a tactical knife. In my mind things get pretty busy adding another gun to the equation. Plus, I’ve always viewed pepper spray as my first option, my gun as a last-resort.