The most interesting aspect about the James Files confession as the JFK assassin, is his statement concerning his assessment of the choice of weapon.
Speculation regarding the possibility of a second shooter on the grassy knoll has existed since the day of the assassination. Witnesses describe seeing a flash, smoke, and hearing a shot coming from that direction. The autopsy concluded that the fatal shot came from behind, but the visual evidence seemed to suggest a shot front in front. Fragments of the President's head were blown backwards and to the rear.
That fatal shot appeared to be not only from a different direction but also from a much more powerful weapon. This is why Files' testimony has a veneer of plausibility.
According to James Files, he was a mafia gunman operating as back up in case the first shooter failed to achieve the desired head-shot. He claims that the mafia were involved as part of a wider conspiracy, and that they were also involved in gun running operations to Cuba. It ticks all the right boxes for engagement with CIA black operations, and familiarity with Oswald in New Orleans.
However, for his account to be true then Charles Nicoletti must be the first gunman, operating from the Dal-Tex building. That seems far less likely.. Oswald allegedly also spent a few days with Files surveying the area and assisting the test firing to calibrate the telescopic sight. The problem with that is that according to his employment record, Oswald never missed a single day at work. So, there has to be significant scepticism with regards to James Files.
He states that he chose to use a revolutionary and unusual weapon - a Remington Fireball Xp 100 - which has several distinguishing features. It's a handgun, smaller than a rifle - about 20 inches in length. Equipped with a telescopic sight it is highly accurate. It operates with manual bolt action and offers just a single shot in the available time. It also fires a high velocity round at up to 3000 foot per second - much faster than a rifle bullet. Its small size makes it easily concealable in a briefcase. The assessment of these characteristics seems to be the sound logic of an experienced hitman, and might just explain the apparent single shot from a seemingly more powerful weapon.
The gun fires a .222 bullet. He claims to have bitten the spent casing and to have left this at the scene as a calling card. Years after the assassination just such a bullet casing was found. Initially the casing was deemed to be from a much later date than the shooting and therefore Files testimony was declared fake. However that judgement was subsequently overturned. Apparently the casing could indeed be from 1963. It's exactly the right calibre bullet for the weapon he claimed to have used, and has the bite mark. Either he faked his story in knowledge of the bullet, or the bullet corroborates his account.
Files came to attention in the 1990s when serving a 50 year sentence for the attempted murder of two policeman. His discovery was as a result of a tip off from an intelligence agent. That in itself is strange. He didn't seek the limelight but he subsequently agreed to confess to his apparent involvement.
Like everything else associated with the assassination, there are arguments in favour and arguments against. The truth remains elusive. The claim that Nicoletti fired from the Dal-Tex buildings and the claim that Oswald was with Files rather than at work are two weak links, but the claim that the fatal shot came from a Remington Fireball seems to fit the evidence really of a single high velocity shot from the front.
