I do enjoy my little 60, though I don't often choose it for carry because of the hammer spur.
At present one of the very best defense loads for snubbies in .38 spl. is Speer's new 135 gr. +P Gold Dot. Speer specifically developed this load with the 2" S&W (and similar guns) in mind. Velocity from the 2" barrel is about 870 or so and the bullet is designed to fully expand at that speed.
In bare gelatin, gelatin clad with heavy clothing, and gelatin clad with 4 denim layers, the round penetrates about 11-13", expands to .55 to .58", and retains 100% of it's weight. Pretty impressive from a 2" .38 spl revolver.
Here's a link to the technical data for this load, which is fast becoming the top choice in loads for guns like the 60, 642, 640, SP101, etc.
http://www.le.atk.com/pdf/SpeerTech38_135HP.pdf