This guy puts out no nonsense articulate information.
.38 wadcutters in J Frames
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gPXDwi7O0jgBallistic Gel Test Results: .38 Spl & .357 Mag:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJmqcE7ZHhYLink to .38 special gel test lab results. Note how very consistent the full wadcutters are for penetration are. Low recoil and very consistent penetration in a factory round. Not bad for your primary load.