There was one account I read about a while back with an Axis where the owner had a similar out of battery detonation. In that case however, the shooter had chambered a round and pulled the trigger, but no bang. He then opened the bolt about half way to make sure a round had chambered and as he was closing the bolt to try the same round again it went off. That one sounded more like a hang-fire from a light primer strike to me.
Best I can tell you is to contact Savage. I'm sure they will want you to send them the rifle so they can check it out and possibly see what could have caused it. A broken and/or stuck firing pin sounds logical though.
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