In run of the mill factory ammo, I can't tell you what to choose, other than go with whichever you think is better.
I only have one 9mm revolver at the moment and it does not function after firing 5 shots except with one load (but that load is a good one!)
Could be I just need to polish the chambers.
Still I like .38 for a "hide out" and have a bunch of J's, Ks and Colt D frames.
I once carried a 3" old model Detective spl as a BUG and had a home brewed load of a 200 gr Lead Hollow Point at 850 ffps from that barrel (it went 800 from a 1 7/8" SW). It expanded well and went deep.
But I quit carrying it after a while because the guns got so expensive I reverted to cheaper S&W which I do like.
Now my .38 carry load (remember this is almost always as a 3rd gun for me so not very high in the pecking order) is a Buffalo Bore 158 Outdoorsman in steel guns and a standard pressure BB 158 LSWHP in airweights and Cobras. A viable backup load would be any 148 WC that gets around 800 fps (that generally excludes Win., Remington and Federal since they get down around 700 and below form short barrels).
I often carry the speer 135 +P short barrel for a reload since it is easier to load under pressure. Then again, if I am down to my 3rd gun it is a really bad day
I do like .38 around the yard - and often substitute one for my normal BUG (which is usally a .44 or .45) while mowing, with a single shotshell up and some more normal .38 hollow points for the rest of the cylinder.
Mind you, that is just what I do, I'm not recommending it to anyone else.
Riposte