Ive witnessed this in person BTW. A friend had one those Remington rifles they talk about in that story, and I watched him load the magazine with 4 or 5 cartridges, close the bolt to chamber a round (with his finger NOT on the trigger), and that thing went off right in front of both of us.
Neither of us was expecting it of course, so it scared the living daylights out of both of us. He was practicing gun safety though and had the barrel pointed away from anything alive. The only damage was to our undershorts, both had to be discarded!
As have I and had to service a few. Additionally, I have modified and built a few dozen and have all prints and numerous modifications for this specific weapon. ( for my own pending production) I was also a stocking dealer for Remington for quite a few years.
I point this out to illustrate a few critical points regarding the SIG situation.
First, no machine is fool proof or incapable of either a malfunction ( built right but something isn't 100%) or some form of accident. Guns are no different.
This design however cannot be legitimately used to shore up ( or refute) any similar claim of firing without command for the SIG because the designs are radically different so none of the causes or contributions or scenarios can be compared.
On the 700, there is no "design defect" ( defined by the correct usage of the terms) but it has been noted as being on the "edge" of mechanical integrity. ( a very gray, vague, non-descript and difficult to define area)- the problem is that "mechanical integrity" is virtually impossible to define and measure so its equally hard to design something
against all possible scenarios.
( like some say about "safety"[ another industrial "Holy "Grail"]-
The only "safe" plant is one shut down where all possibilities of injury are eliminated". But nobody likes or wants that level of "safety")
Is that an excuse for accidents, injury, malfunctions all? Not in the slightest or in any way. But "fake news" and "biased reporting" are not the golden standards of truth- The facts are.
How many of these "alleged malfunctions" are in fact the result of unsafe handling practices, a weapon worn, maybe a MODIFICATION ( theres a BIG root cause)- that's a big issue because people tend to read and remember the headline claim, not the final verdict.
Remember, no brand wants their name in lights for negative issues ( and expense) but each malfunction (resulting in injury/damage) has to be judged on the individual merits and let responsibility be divided as appropriate.
If the 700 was so "badly designed", one would have to believe the millions out there over the decades ( not to mention precision shooters, snipers, military etc.) would have banned it by now by public refusing to purchase it.( the ultimate punishment) Nowhere does that state or imply that malfunctions cannot or will not occur.
I would like someone to show me any device made by man that doesn't malfunction, wear or break or even have undesired actions in some scenarios.
To another point, many of these "hair triggers" and designs "very subject to shock" ( to be polite) are a result of the demands by the CONSUMERS ( yeah, us) for light action ( accuracy),smooth length of pull, travel etc., smaller actions, faster cycle time and all that. It cant be both ways.
Theres trade offs on those things ( like thin oils and MOFT affecting engine wear). Tire manufacturers can make a 500,000 mile tire that will never run flat but you wont like the ride or handling.
All I'm doing is keeping the scales balanced