RM: Hey Jim, thanks for taking the time to talk to me.
MJ: Not a problem, it’s in the 90s here today so being in my truck in the AC is fine by me.
RM: Haha great, tell me Jim, before we get into your time with the XFDA, what do you do with the rest of your time?
MJ: So I’m an aircraft mechanic for American Airlines, out of Tulsa OK but I grew up in Missouri. Wasn’t very creative with my alias!
RM: How did you come across the XFDA?
MJ: I had been shooting fast draw for a while with a few different organizations, but I especially liked the format of the XFDA, you get to shoot more and compete all the way through a weekend event, even if you’re not performing at your best. Also the XFDA encourages you to be better, you are always competing against yourself. Other formats like Cowboy or Fast Draw of America you can slow down and make more shots, but you’re not trying to be fast. XFDA keeps you honest, and makes speed the priority, which I love.
RM: Yeah that’s something I hear a lot and it was one of the first questions I had, what stops shooters from playing the odds and hoping someone misses and then just hitting the target. Well the KPIs keep you focused and make it fair so that people can’t play that way. It’s a great system.
So was it the format that made you focus on the XFDA solely?
MJ: Absolutely, as one of the faster shooters I really need something that pushes me more than just beating the person next to me. I won’t always come up against someone who can push me each week, so having that individual incentive to improve keeps me on it everytime I step on the line. The competitive shooters need that.
RM: So are the other formats less competitive?
MJ: Yes and no, you may not have the individual competition that the KPIs give, but you do have to be on your game. You could have 4 Xs on your first round and that’s it, you’re going home. That’s not fun for people when they may have driven halfway across the country. Yes we want it to be a competition, but it has to be fun and engaging too, otherwise you won’t get the new generation of shooters.
RM: I really think that that competition and fun can come across to new participants through the spectators. What do you think the sport can do to develop this more?
MJ: As much as I have my own goals I’d really like to see the organization grow and reach more people. As a board member I’m lucky enough to get to discuss new ideas. Everyone wants to see us do more, supporting each other in that is important, communicating properly.
RM: What would your advice be to new members, people that wanna give it a try?
MJ: It’s addictive!! Be prepared for it to take over as it’s really addictive. But we have all the help and equipment you need, so even if you’re all in on the sport, come and try out some of our equipment and figure out what you like. When you’re ready to buy your own it can be a few thousand dollars, so you wanna be sure. It’s a really personal thing too, so you’ll need time to develop your style.
RM: So here in the UK, guns aren’t as everyday as they are in the USA and some states even aren’t as gun ‘friendly’, do you think that a sport like this can be good for the reputation of firearms in general and help promote safe use?
MJ: Absolutely, we haven’t traveled to all of the more liberal states, but we do have shooters and clubs in places like California and New York, even one of our main holster makers, Tin Can Jack lives in upstate NY. It doesn’t really matter what the everyday gun views are, it’s a sport, they may not own a gun for the traditional reasons, but can enjoy one in this environment.
RM: I can totally see it appealing to anyone who’s competitive and likes sport regardless of their feelings on guns. I know when I had a try and those times started to drop I could see myself getting obsessed with it!
Lastly you mentioned your alias Missouri Jim is not that creative, but I understand that your wife’s is a bit more imaginative?
MJ: Yeah she got into it a little later than I did, but now she’s one of the fastest women in the XFDA. Her alias is ‘Black Fox Lil’, our town in OK is called Inola, and that means Black Fox, so we incorporated it into her name.
If you would like to see more about Missouri Jim please click here to his profile!
