I competed at American Skeet for a fairly long time and know skeet shooters all across the country.
I know HOF skeet shooters who use release triggers (typically release/pull) due to having developed a flinch that just won't let them pull the trigger.
I know of some of these guys who also compete at the very top level of the sport with these type triggers.
The gun must have a sticker indicating release triggers and everybody on the squad and the ref need to know the deal with that shooter's gun.
Whenever I saw someone with release triggers, I kept a somewhat closer eye on them if something came up during the event as it is indeed a bit easier to mishandle them.
I'm fine with release triggers on a break action shotgun as, if there is any sort of interruption, the gun can easily be made safe and unloaded without needing to release the trigger and firing.
The same cannot be said, IMO, for release triggers in a semi-auto. To my mind, the only safe say to "safe" a semi-auto with cocked release trigger is to fire it down range/into the ground. I do NOT like release triggers in a semi-auto but I do know shooters who use them for doubles/12 ga events and have done so safely for a very long time. Just not my cup of tea.
I believe that in shotgun sports, release triggers can be safely used and will relieve a very real impediment to the shooter...the flinch.
And yes, this is mostly applicable to trap shooters shooting from the handicap lines with small mortar shells that they load up and call 12 ga ammo! That is some flinch inducing shit there.
I cannot see ever putting release triggers in a bolt action or semi-auto rifle which would be far more difficult to safely clear in case of an interruption. Its just not the same.
Now, I generally agree with my friend
@308pirate but I do not agree with him when he opines that shotgunners have the "worst safety habits and gun handling skills" Not sure wtf he was shooting with, but it certainly wasn't the type of people I squaded with. But, we are all entitled to our opinions...well, mostly! haha
In my experience, some young dumb fuck, or an older "oh, I'm so scared of COVID I need to go buy a gun now" dumb fuck, with their inexpensive AR that they just bought (and have no idea how to use properly) and are doing mag dumps at the range are the ones who scare me. And they still can't hit shit at just 50 yds. The ones who can't understand that being "cold, do not touch your gun" really means "COLD, DO NOT TOUCH YOUR FUCKING GUN FOR ANY REASON!". Now, those are the guys I keep a very close eye on.
Cheers