Concealed carry is at an all time high right now. I, personally, have never been one to carry a small gun except as a back up... i.e. a "New York reload". My definition of a belly gun is a large bore revolver with a short barrel. Now in the past I have packed a 1911 along with my Colt Trooper MK V with it's 4 inch barrel. Along with this duo, I would also sometimes slip a 38 deringer in my back pocket. I also own a couple of 38 revolvers with 2 inch barrels and have carried them on occasion too.
For several years I looked for the quintesential belly gun - large bore, short barrel. For a while there wasn't too much to choose from. There are a lot more choices available now though. S&W has a nice 44 special out now with a short barrel. I'm not sure if it is one of those Thunder Ranch retro guns that S&W has recently re-introduced. Taurus has an interesting short barrel revolver out in caliber 40 S&W and they are going to release the same gun in 45acp and 9mm. Though the 9 does not meet my definition of belly gun, the 40 and 45 certainly do. Apparently they have some kind of spring-catch thingys on the extractor star to hold,and extact these auto-ammo rimless cartridges in the cylinders without the use of moon clips.
The belly gun I eventually bought was the Ruger Super Redhawk Alaskan in caliber 454 Casull. For home and vehicle protection I load it with 45 Colt loads from Corbon. The 200 gr. JHP with the muzzle velocity rating of 1100 fps. The 4 speed loaders I carry for it are loaded with Corbon's 225 gr. solid copper hp round with the muzzle velocity rating of 1200 fps. (The DPX load). It's a pretty stout load that is close to the mildest 454 load available, but I figure if I can't solve the problem with the first six rounds and I have to do a tactical re-load I'll at least be upgrading my ammo. Friends have pointed out, rightly so, that it is quite a heavy weapon to be carrying, I rarely carry on my person these days and my so called "belly gun" is only close at hand in the house or the truck so the weight don't really matter.
So... Your thoughts on belly guns?