Ridgewalker didn't leave anything out. In this case Atlanta is your port of entry. Your port of entry regardless of which airport it is, is where you go through these formalities. Then when you get to your final airport if other than Atlanta, you will pick up your rifle in a small office close to or next to the conveyor belts the checked luggage is delivered on. No formalities here, just show your ticket stub and I.D. Then off to your car or taxi.Atlanta is where I always enter/return to the US of A. There you stand in line to go through Customs first, then stand in line at the office where your gun is checked after getting your suitcase. They call your name. Then you unlock your gun case. Then they check the serial number to your 4457. After it’s OKed, you lock it back up. Then you give them your hunting boots and they spray them down. Finally outside the room you get your gun in a locked case unless you have another flight. Then they walk you to a check-in station where you check the gun case in.
I believe that is all I can remember. It can be confusing no matter how many times you do it.
So yes, I have another flight out of Atlanta. If I follow you, I get the rifle checked in Atlanta and then check it back in at another station for the final destination, correct?
I know what I need to do to take a rifle with me. What is the procedure once I get back to my home airport in the US? Is there anything special to do to claim the rifle?
Atlanta is where I always enter/return to the US of A. There you stand in line to go through Customs first, then stand in line at the office where your gun is checked after getting your suitcase. They call your name. Then you unlock your gun case. Then they check the serial number to your 4457. After it’s OKed, you lock it back up. Then you give them your hunting boots and they spray them down. Finally outside the room you get your gun in a locked case unless you have another flight. Then they walk you to a check-in station where you check the gun case in.
I believe that is all I can remember. It can be confusing no matter how many times you do it.
If you don't travel often, look into the "mobile passport" app. It's from Customs and Border Patrol. You complete all your entry paperwork on your phone and add a selfie within like 3 hours of landing. This puts you in shorter line. We were at the gun room behind one global entry person, but there were a few global entry people behind us as well.. If you have time and travel often, look into global entry to expedite the customs entry.