I like 147 gr. JHPs for two reasons: 1) They're a little more efficient out of a short barrel, and 2) They penetrate a little more reliably than lighter bullets.
Defensive handguns are all pea-shooters and there's no "magic bullet", so make sure you have a load that will penetrate far enough and then make sure you place those rounds well. Sure, a 124 gr. +P JHP might expand more, but that extra expansion doesn't necessarily translate into greater effectiveness. But if that round doesn't penetrate far enough to hit vitals, it will definitely be less effective than another round that does.
But it really doesn't make much difference what round you pick. Shot placement matters far more than anything else. So pick a load that doesn't have too much recoil or muzzle blast and you're good to go.