Howdy
The whole point of concealed carry is concealment. Have you ever tried to conceal a large frame revolver, even if it has a short barrel?
Here is a photo that may help you understand the differences in sizes of the three principal frame sizes for S&W revolvers. At the top is a Model 27, the original large frame 357 Magnum revolver, built on S&W's N frame. A short barreled S&W 44 or 45 will be on the same frame, the barrel will just be shorter. The middle gun is a classic 4" S&W Model 10, built on the K frame. This is the standard size S&W uses for 38 Special revolvers and many 357 Magnum revolvers are now built on this frame size too. At the bottom is a J frame Model 36, also known as the Chief's Special. The Model 36 is built on a frame originally intended for 32 caliber revolvers, so the cylinder is not big enough for six 38 caliber chambers, it is only a five shot gun. S&W currently catalogs a whole bunch of revolvers built on the J frame and chambered for 357 Mag, but frankly, a J frame gun is much too small and lightweight for this cowboy to want to fire 357 Mags out of it. 38s are fine, but not 357 in a J frame for this cowboy.
My choice for a good concealed carry gun is my Model 36. Five 38 Specials should be enough in a tight spot.
The Colt Detective Special is a slightly larger gun than the S&W Model 36, its cylinder is large enough for six 38 Special rounds. Unfortunately, it has been out of production for a long time.