Had it happen recently, and it was my own fault. Put a Rifle Basix trigger on a Marlin 917 (17HMR) rifle, thought I had it adjusted right, though it was real light. Closed the bolt to fire the second shot, and it went off. Fortunately, a lifetime of careful habits, including caution in where the rifle is pointed when performing any operation on a loaded gun, prevented any damage or tragedy. A pro always knows where the firearm is pointed, and always directs it in a non hazardous direction before doing anything that involves live ammo. Sooner or later, you will be glad you have that habit.

On a similar note... I was out shooting my favorite M1A not too long ago. Was squeezing off rounds at 100 yards, boom... boom... BRAAAAP! Three rounds came ripping out. WTF? I certainly didn't alter it to do that! Turns out the trigger group was dirty. A thorough cleaning solved that problem. Just as well, the local LEO's probably wouldn't appreciate that sort of noise coming out of my farm.

 

I had a .22 semi auto pistol one time that when you pulled the trigger it would empty the entire magazine every time. Something inside had busted and it would just keep cycling until it was empty. It was fun but it was scarry too. It would fire off 11 rounds in just over a second.

 

Due to the age of the gun and not knowing how much use, abuse, customizing the rifle had, getting it to a competent gunsmith to have it looked over was a smart move.

However, there was a "recall" several years ago regarding Remingtons going off when the safety was disengaged. It concerned Model 700s manufactured before 1982. The link below will describe one notice Remington sent.

http://www.ncconsumer.org/RemingtonPressRelease.html

Do a search for Remington rifle recall and you will find several sites with information regarding this.

I would venture that even if a new trigger was put in, if the real issue was with the bolt and safety, the unintentional firing could happen again. I would look into sending the bolt in for the factory update just to be safe.

Per the comment that a less than 3 lbs trigger is dangerous, that is not necessarily true. Not if correctly adjusted and tuned. My PD sniper rifles are all Remington 700s and set at 3lbs. My personal 300 WM hunting rifle is at 3 lbs and has been since I got it in 1992. It has been banged around all over in MO, CO, WY, and NM hunting deer, antelope, and elk. It will not go off unless the trigger is pulled with the safety off. It will not go off when intentionally dropped from 30" on the butt of the gun on concrete. I tested it. And it still shoots sub-one inch groups at 200 yards. My M70 30.06 is actually set at 2.75 lbs and will not go off without pulling the trigger. Just to get really picky, I have a Para Ordnance Open class pistol for competition with a 1.75 lb trigger. You guess it, you have to pull the trigger to make it go bang.

Sorry that I got off the topic but the misconception about light triggers is just that.

 

BINGO. Oil and gunk can keep the triggers seer contact open, letting the hammer hit the firing pin strike the bullet.
Or, human factor. We think we are handling the gun safely but still have our finger on the trigger while handling the gun.

 

I have never hada weapon go off by itself, it is not physically possible!! Having said that, I also had the same problem that johno had with his riflebasix trigger,impossible to get set without the rifle going off when you closed the bolt, no matter how you cycled the action! called the company myself, told me to back off the sear engagement screw, had to tell him that I took itout already. He said that I needed different springs or some crap. Anyway I told him the sear engagement angle, or the bearing surface area was incorrect, and he gave me the runaround. I gave in to him and he sent me some new parts to install, same crap, under no cicumstances should anyone use these triggers. I was very lucky in that I found my bullet in one of the trees that are behinde my berm. Go name brand, jewell, or otherwise, go to a gunsmith that backs up what he does, or put up with the trigger from the factory!!!!!

 

THATS PRETTY WILD, GOOD THING NOBODY GOT HURT. I HAD SOMETHING SIMULAR HAPPEN TO ME, I HAD A 1895 SINGLE SHOT 12 GA. THAT SHOOTS 3 IN MAGS, WITH A STEEL BUTT PLATE, I SHOT 3 SLUGS OUT OF IT, AND ON THE THRID ONE THE BARREL FELL OFF AS SOON AS IT FIRED , I DIDNT GET HURT THOUGH I WAS LUCKY

 

Never had that happen with a rifle, thank god, but I have had a Remington 870 "slam fire" when you racked the action. It's kid of a weird feeling when your standing there and the gun bow right out of your hands because your not set. Only saving grace was it was a work gun and nut my personal one.

 

I had a 22. mag revolver go off into my hand and through my wrist.

 

I was walking behind my Dad a few years back, he had a Winchester over and under laying across his arms. There was no brush, no nothing, it simply fired one shot. It scared the H out of him, he sold the gun.