To this day, I'm amazed at some of the things that people say about small caliber pocket guns! Last week, I had two customers in the gun store where I work saying that they wouldn't be caught dead carrying a pocket .380. That attitude just might get you dead.
I've said this before and I'll say it again: any caliber that you are or can carry is better than no caliber at all. Is a .22 my first choice for concealed carry self defense? No, but I certainly wouldn't want to get shot by one. A local police officer in my area took a .22 mag to the eye from one of those NAA belt buckle guns and didn't make it. Any and I mean any caliber firearm can kill or seriously injure someone.
I carry a .380 pocket gun nearly every day. Loaded with some high quality, self defense ammo (Cor-bon), it will more than serve it's purpose of defending me should I need it.
Don't let other people's opinions sway you from making sound decisions.
Since S&W released the M&P Compact to the market, it has steadily gained a following in both the civilian and law enforcement markets as a CCW handgun as well as a back-up/secondary weapon.
The biggest issue with this handgun right now seems to center around the lack of holsters. While most of the holsters made for the M&P full size will also fit the Compact, they don't fit that well as the FS has a longer barrel.
There are some mainstream holster makers that have jumped on the bandwagon and started producing holster for the Compact. The two most prominent are Don Hume and Galco. Both are now offering a number of holster models that are made specifically for the Compact.
For the best deals on Don Hume try here: Don Hume holsters. I like the Galco line, but they are just a bit too expensive for my tastes.
The S&W J frame revolver is probably the most popular back-up and self defense pistol still in production today. While a number of other S&W frame revolvers are popular, none even come close to the success of the J frame.
My own experince with the J frame started during my law enforcement days as it was one of the few handguns my department allowed for back-up carry. My J frame spent countless hours on my ankle. While I never had to employ it's talents, it gave me a great deal of comfort during those times. I still find myself grabbing my 642 airweight and slip it into my coat pocket as I'm leaving the house.
As popular as the J frame has become, finding a good holster of one should not be a problem. Nearly every holster maker I know makes at least one holster for that revolver.
The J frame is at home on the belt, inside the waistband, in the pocket, or on the ankle. From a CCW perspective, it's one of the most versatile handguns on the market.
My personal favorite for the J frame is a pocket holster that slips into my jacket pocket. I do occasionally use an IWB holster, but I have single stack semi pistols that I prefer for that method of carry.
Here's a really nice article about J frame and related holsters: S&W J frame Holsters.