I used to mostly CCW carry a S&W model 60 snubbie 38sp 1 7/8" barrel (SS, not an airweight) 5 shooter... and sometimes still do, OWB
I mostly now carry a Colt government model 380acp, all steel ~23 oz, 7 shot mag, locked breech, 3 3/4" barrel
slimmer, trimmer, overall more compact than snubbie, super easy IWB carry, points well, no muzzle flip, not prone to limp wristing the way some short/light autos can be
points and shoots more naturally for me than the snubbie, stays better on target, access just as quick, shoots at least as quick, and carries far better, very reliable, extra rounds
that aside, I don't do magnum loads out of 2" barrels (never did), don't have faith in expansion of either 38sp out of 2" barrels or 380acp rounds out of 4" barrels, so I load any off-the-shelf commonly found FMJ in either
current trend conventional wisdom seems to put more faith in momentum vs. energy
I am not inclined to have unbounded faith in either, but prone to favor energy over momentum
but have never yet seen anyone change their mind about such "knockdown power", "penetration", etc. arguments anyway; people pick whatever 'formula' favors their pre-determined choice, me too
oddly enough, I always have favored full size all steel revolvers over full size all steel autos for home and range... but CCW is a whole other thing
have also been known to drop a Ruger LCP in pocket for extra casual mode, but don't pretend to myself that it is what it ain't... just a convenience 7-shot derringer, very limited capability, both it and me in combination