When I first started carrying, a fellow I know who had carried for years told me that after I carried a while I'd realize that I needed a j-frame in my stable. A retired LAPD detective told me the same thing. Being a semi-auto nut I ignored them.
In CA our permit is good for 2 years, and you can have up to 3 guns on the permit by serial number. You have to qualify with the exact gun that is going on your permit. So selection is important because you have to requalify to put another gun on your permit.
My friends were were both right about the j-frame as a pocket gun. The first time I went to renew my permit I retired the Sig 230 (which is a fine gun BTW but underpowered and too big for pocket service) and replaced it with a S&W 442. Still use a 1911 for day to day, but for a quick trip out or under certain concealment restrictions, there's no beating slipping that little j-frame in my pocket. It rides in a Sparks PCH holster.
If I was buying it today I'd get a 642 so I wouldn't have to worry about the finish. Skip the magnums - good +P .38 will get the job done and you can actually hit something with it. Whatever you get don't have a hammer hanging out where it will hang up on the draw. I put a set of Hogue fingergroove wood grips on it which gave my pinky a home and made the gun point lower (which is perfect for me).
If you have a concern about the gun firing from a pocket, I'd suggest a visit to a yard sale to acquire a couple of ratty coats for testing. It is not a concern of mine because the gun is riding in a holster and it has to come out to rid itself of the holster.
It strikes me that there are a number of comments here from people who haven't carried before. Sift through and decide accordingly.
BTW Kentucky Rifle above mentions different hand positions being possible on the 642. He is right. Note that a different hand position will change your POI. A little testing will bear this out. That is one of the reasons I put on the Hogue grips. My hand position is now more consistent and as such my POI is consistent.
You need to test these guns with a number of loads to get POA/POI where it needs to be. Mine works best for me with the HydraShock 129 grain loads. YMMV according to your particular gun, grip, and shooting style. Whatever you do, by all means, TEST it out so you KNOW it will work. These little guns do require some practice to shoot consistently.
