Departing Atlanta to Africa with two rifles and two suppressors

[1Birddog!]

I’m planning my African flights. I will have two rifles and two suppressors. My flight has a two hour layover in Atlanta before flying to South Africa. What will I need to do in Atlanta regarding the firearms and is two hours long enough?

 

[NIGHTHAWK]

Delta?

 

[1Birddog!]

Yes

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

If all your flights are Delta, you won't touch your bags/rifle case in ATL. Everything is checked through to JNB. Suggest you put AirTags in your baggage. Use a service like Rifle Permits. You do all the paperwork ahead of time (SAPS form is very long!). Have your US CBP form 4457 done ahead of time. Put photo copies in the gun case and have a few extra copies with you.

Two hour connection in ATL should be okay, but it's about the minimum. Look at what earlier flights are available. A 4-5 hour wait in ATL isn't bad. If it's longer than that, stick with the 2 hour connecting flight.

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

I’m planning my African flights. I will have two rifles and two suppressors. My flight has a two hour layover in Atlanta before flying to South Africa. What will I need to do in Atlanta regarding the firearms and is two hours long enough?

I'm not sure how the suppressors come into play, or even if at all. If you're starting on Delta at some other airport besides Atlanta, you will check your firearms there. You won't see them again until you arrive in Johannesburg. There's nothing extra to do in Atlanta on your way out. 2 hours should be fine provided your first flight departs on time.

On your way back, you'll collect all of your luggage including firearms when you arrive in Atlanta. Regular luggage is collected at the carousels. Firearms are collected along with review of paperwork at a room off to one side of the area with the carousels. It's in a corner and enclosed in glass, not hard to find.

After getting your firearms cleared in this room, you'll move out of this area to recheck all of your luggage and firearms for connecting flight.

 

[NIGHTHAWK]

Maintain a Copy of your SAPS permit for your return trip home. Very important…

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

When you come back through ATL, they will check your rifle and also your hunting boots. They dip them in some sort of cleaner/disinfectant/pesticide/COVID/heart break of psoriasis solution.

 

[Hyde Hunter]

last year they only sprayed my boots(did they change to dipping this year?) also I make sure I have my tax stamp for each suppressor and my bill of sale, I have never had an issue with it. when you go into the room I would have your paper work ready, we did that and they were very impressed and sent us out quick, make sure to put your suppressors on your 4457 with you rifles, now sweat going thru Atlanta. I wish I had only a 2 hour layover instead of 13 hours. have fun and get your permit preapproved with Henry with Rifle Permits very little to fill out (I just did mine this morning) and Henry will email you all the info and a sample permit to follow.

 

[Tra3]

Definitely have a copy of your tax stamps for the suppressors for reentry to the USA.

 

[khesser]

I brought two rifles with two suppressors to Africa this past spring and listed the suppressors on the 4457 form with the rifles and scopes. On entry back into the USA customs did not ask to see my tax stamp but I carried copies just in case.

 

[kdenn]

I think 2 hours is minimum time. Also if taking suppressors ATF has a form that should be completed about a month early and sent for their approval. It seems most are only adding the suppressors to the 4457 and have been good to go. I’m always extra careful. 4457 with guns and suppressors, copies of tax stamps, ATF form and copies of SAPS form. luck with your safari.

 

[Philip Glass]

I’m planning my African flights. I will have two rifles and two suppressors. My flight has a two hour layover in Atlanta before flying to South Africa. What will I need to do in Atlanta regarding the firearms and is two hours long enough?

We need more info please. Where do you originate from? What airline? Delta all the way? You always want a 3 hour layover before the big flight.

 

[Philip Glass]

last year they only sprayed my boots(did they change to dipping this year?) also I make sure I have my tax stamp for each suppressor and my bill of sale, I have never had an issue with it. when you go into the room I would have your paper work ready, we did that and they were very impressed and sent us out quick, make sure to put your suppressors on your 4457 with you rifles, now sweat going thru Atlanta. I wish I had only a 2 hour layover instead of 13 hours. have fun and get your permit preapproved with Henry with Rifle Permits very little to fill out (I just did mine this morning) and Henry will email you all the info and a sample permit to follow.

Do NOT put your suppressors on the 4457 with your rifles. Rifles only on one form and everything else on another. Out of sight, out of mind is the way to go with cans.

 

[sgt_zim]

A 2 hour layover with Delta in ATL is more than enough.

"2 hours" in Delta-speak means more like 4 or 6.

We've got 2 members here who've had VERY recent and extraordinarily bad experiences with Delta. For one of them, it was so bad, he had to reschedule his hunt for next year.

If Qatar and Emirates are options for you, I'd at least take a look at them.

 

[chase0109]

I would second the plan of putting the suppressors on one 4457 form and your rifles on a different 4457 form. When I returned through Atlanta, October 2023, they never even bothered to look at my 4457 or tax stamp for my suppressor. At that time there was a separate room you went into when they checked your rifle.

I just came back through September 2024 and now they have a separate area with 3–5 people checking firearms in an open area. Didn’t take a suppressor on this trip as Zimbabwe doesn’t allow it. As long as you have your 4457 form Everything will be smooth.

Keep all paperwork sorted during the entire trip. IME nobody in Atlanta will care about yours SAPS form.

Still just a boot spray in Atlanta as of last month.

Chase

 

[sgt_zim]

I would second the plan of putting the suppressors on one 4457 form and your rifles on a different 4457 form. When I returned through Atlanta, October 2023, they never even bothered to look at my 4457 or tax stamp for my suppressor. At that time there was a separate room you went into when they checked your rifle.

I just came back through September 2024 and now they have a separate area with 3–5 people checking firearms in an open area. Didn’t take a suppressor on this trip as Zimbabwe doesn’t allow it. As long as you have your 4457 form Everything will be smooth.

Keep all paperwork sorted during the entire trip. IME nobody in Atlanta will care about yours SAPS form.

Still just a boot spray in Atlanta as of last month.

Chase

They don't even do a boot spray at IAH. Heck, I nearly walked out of Customs without so much as a fare-the-well.

 

[Datchew]

When you come back through ATL, they will check your rifle and also your hunting boots. They dip them in some sort of cleaner/disinfectant/pesticide/COVID/heart break of psoriasis solution.

With a minty freshness smell?