Its not the same gun they fixed the trigger and most accurate? That's why the most famous US snipper Carlos Hathcock used a Win M70 they just cant afford M70's anymore.
It seems the military buys actions maybe less triggers. As for cost , really the mod 70 had a non round reciver and it was easier to work with the round rem reciver. The fact that there is more stuff aval for the rem didn't hurt. Even the 700 is being phased out for some applications . I talked to Carlos Hathcock several times at gun shows , a very nice person and willing to talk shoting . It seems when we were in VN there was little in the way of snipers or rifles aval. So they got what was aval. on the market at first. So he used what he could get.
as for the triggers , with the millions of guns maybe one or two could be defective , most likely the accidents were user caused , from lack of maintance , adjustment by non qualifyed people or broken parts. It would seem since there are more 700's than most any other brand the rate of problems would be higher with them.
But in reality any accident that resulted in death , injury or dammage would lie with the shooter not following the safety rule that tells us not to point the gun at anything you are not willing to destory.