Greetings @Strider B,
To actually answer your question the Federal cases you are using may have less capacity than some of the other US brands so you may need to be a bit careful with max loads. Most of my .308 loads use AR2206H. Book max is 45.5 grains with the 150 grain for 2,870 fps in a 24 inch barrel and a load of 44 grains recently chronographed 2,675 fps in my 20" barrel using Winchester cases and Federal primers. This is a sub max load.
Before doing anything else I suggest that you weigh some of your cases. The Winchester and Remington cases I am using weigh 160 grains to 165 grains where Federal weigh around 185 grains so the latter need a lower max load. To start I would shoot a few rounds at 43 grains of AR2206H (book start load) and chronograph them. Adjust the book velocity by 25 fps per inch of barrel length less than 24 inches to bring it into line with your barrel. Your aim at this point is to come up with a load that develops close to the Hodgdon max velocity of 2,870 fps less 25fps per inch that your barrel is shorter. AR2206H is an extremely flexible powder usually giving good accuracy over a wide range of loads.
If your barrel is new then providing the load shoots well enough load up a batch and go hunting. Leave load development until your barrel has had at least 100 rounds through it. Trying to develop loads in a new barrel is a waste of components, time and money.
Feel free to PM me if you need a hand in interpreting your results.
Regarda Grandpamac.
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