Carry Ammo for 2.5

[Stu Honea]

135 gr. Speer Gold Dot Short Barrel either 357 or 38 +p.

Powder is low(er) flash, accuracy is good, bullet performs better than the 158 in the shorter barrel.

This is good advice.Modern ammo that delivers good terminal ballistics. You're really just getting a lot of flash and blast with a full house magnum load in the 2 1/2 in.bbl and not gaining that much in true TERMINAL performance.
I use only the 135 gr.+P 38 Gold Dot in my 2 1/2 that I've had for 40 years.
My own testing demonstrated excellant penetration and expansion AND it is bonded(better thru barriers). Forget energy.That a farce,period, in any handgun.