For me, 3" and shorter get the Speer short barrel 135gr +P .38 Spl.
I suppose you could also use the .357 short barrel for more speed with the same bullet. It's not loaded as hot as the regular .357.
I prefer Remington Golden Sabers. A little less felt recoil than Winchester Silvertips. Both are still uncomfortable with my 2 1/2 inch 19-3 with Ahrends. My 4 inch 19-3 with Pachmayr Grippers is much more tolerable. I only shoot about a box of magnums a year; just enough to stay accustomed to the wallop.
I carry the old FBI 158 gr. SWC-HP .357 Magnum round in both my Model 19 and Model 66 2 1/2" revolvers. Mine are very accurate with this load and I once took a coyote at 93 paces with the Model 66, resting my shooting hand against a tree for the shot.
I carry Federal 125 Grn .357 Magnums in my 2 1/2" M66.
I know, they are bad for it if you shoot a lot of 'em. That's why I limit them in practice sessions. Just enough of them so I know where they're gonna go, then whatever 158 Grn loads I have on hand.
Jim
Let me give you a few more chrono results.
These are from a Ruger sp101 with a 2.25 in barrel.
Winchester 110gr 357
High 1237 Low 1205 Avg 1219 very little recoil
Remington 110 gr 357
High 1308 Low 1244 Avg 1288 Low recoil
Speer Gold Dot 135gr +P as OKFC05 suggests, OR Federal Nyclad 125gr Standard Pressure. Both of these have a large HP cavity that penetrates and expands reliably out of a short barrel revolver.......