Been around guns all my adult life, and agree w/all comments about following 4 safety rules and no one gets hurt. Also agree that many, if not most FORS (Remington's own acronym for Fire on release of safety) are caused by dirty or poorly adjusted triggers, but, this happened to me personally and my finger was no where near the trigger guard.
Bought a 40XC new sometime in the '80s. The 40X series rifles are built in Remington's custom shop on model 700 actions. The XC is a repeater, in a special stock, built for NRA cross the course competition. Took mine to the range to sight it in and, after bore sighting, strapped sling on it and assumed prone position. Loaded rifle and, with my thumb and trigger finger pushed safety forward (again, hand no where near the trigger guard)......you guessed it, first round thru the new rifle was a "FORS". Yep, all four safety rules were followed and no drama other than scared the *** out of me. Never happened again, because I never put the safety on again (not used or necessary in HP rifle competition), but will never trust a 700 safety again. Actually I don't trust any safety, for that matter, because any mechanical device is subject to failure.
As stated above, the trigger had not been adjusted and if it was dirty, that's how it left the factory.
"Dangit, one can unload a bolt rig without running every round through the chamber.
If you can't, sell the gun and go play golf."
Later model 700 safeties were redesigned by Remington to allow unloading with safety engaged, but the earlier versions (which mine was) locked the bolt when safety on; therefore, if you loaded the rifle, as most hunters do, then apply the safety, the only way to unload the chamber is to take it off safe with live round in the chamber. I did alter the safety on my 40XC to allow unloading while safety on, a simple alteration which can be made by any qualified gunsmith.
Anyone who has an early Walker trigger that still locks bolt when on safe, should have a competent gunsmith correct the potential problem.
Not knocking Remington, but everyone who owns, or hunts with someone who owns a 700 needs to be aware of the possibility of a FORS.
Regards,
hps