I like my S&W 940
I've had a number of j-frames (and my share of Taurus and Charter Arms "j-type"-frames) over the years. They work well for the type of carry you specify (the Ruger SP-101 is a wonderful gun, but it's a bit on the large side for front pant pocket carry). Nowadays I carry an S&W 940 j-frame in 9mm, usually in the front pant pocket. There's no question that a j-frame is a nice quality piece, and it's a little smaller than the corresponding Tauri. I think Tauruses are fine, though, if that's what your budget allows. I've had good and bad experiences with the old Charter Arms pieces - and no experience with the new Charco that's rising from the ashes (again).
For pocket carry, the DAO enclosed hammer guns are nice (although I really prefer the shrouded hammer guns for shooting) because you don't have to clean lint out of the hammer channel.
I've found the 9x19 to be more efficient than the .357 mag or .38 spl out of a snubby bbl, which is how I eventually settled on the piece I now carry. They're no longer made and sometimes hard to find, though, so my next choice would be a .357. The .357 mag is undeniably more powerful than the .38 spl, even out of the snubby bbl, but I don't think the magnum cartridge really hits its stride until it's gone thru about 4" of tube. A light .357 will move out of a short tube pretty quickly (though not so quickly as a light 9x19), but how well will it penetrate? When carrying a .357 snub, I always opted for the middle-weight (e.g., 145 gr STHP) bullets: you give something up in both energy and penetration, but I think it's the most efficient way to handle the short bbl so it's the best compromise for me.
No matter what you decide to carry, I think it's really important to get a decent pocket holster - without one this mode of carry just doesn't work. I use a DeSantis Pocket Pal (their style #30), which impresses me with its quality and its price ($32.50).