I have heard now more than once that the M36/J frame is an "experts" gun, not one to be used by a novice.
I don't agree.
Neither does this young lady that is shooting the J Frame, while on the move, about an hour after the FIRST TIME she had ever touched a gun.
This is her target. While moving right, left, and backward, almost all shots were COM. She missed one shot over the shoulder and got two near miss in the shoulder and head.
I then told the girl, "Now you must put five shots in the head while standing still, at ten yards. Single action or double action, your choice".
She shot SA and made a smiley face with the five shots.
Usually the 2-3 inch J Frame is the second gun I have new shooters use.
They don't know that the J Frame is "an expert's gun" so they usually do very well with it. (rocking target)
I told these couple shooters, "You are making this shooting stuff look too easy, shoot with your left hand for a while". So they did.
The shooters generally like the 3 inch barrel over the 2 inch because the three inch sights are larger.
And BTW, I give friends and new shooters the ammo that they shoot at my place and the 38 Special is full load, not "target loads". The secret is to have hand filling grips on the little J Frames and they can shoot it all day with no discomfort.
A couple more new shooters that don't think the J Frame is only for experts.