I bought my daughter's boyfriend an Axis predator in .223 for Christmas. Took it out for the first time on NYD, and it fired about half of the shells we put in the chamber. Left indents on all of them but wouldn't make them go off. Black Hills. 223 ammo in the blue box, no issues in my AR. Apparently this is common for the Axis. Anyone encountered same and if so, what did you do to make it better? I really don't want to send it back to the factory but perhaps that is the best. Ideas?

Take the bolt apart and clean it inside for starters. This problem is not common in Axis rifles. I have several.

I have an XP II in 223 also, never had this issue in over 300 rounds. I would do like JerseyBoy said and give the bolt as good a cleaning as you can and hit it with some compressed air. It could be something as simple as crud or metal shavings stuck in there.

Take the bolt apart and clean it

Check the head space it could be off anything is possible