I did this, pre-9/11.

I imported a .308 target rifle (at the time, the Australian Dollar only cost .52 US, so it was quite a good deal).

The "drill" at that time went like this;

Australian dealer/seller files for Australian Export permit.
At the same time, You fill out an ATFE Form 4 (individual import of a firearm) form.
On the Form 4, you state what the gun is, the serial number, what dealer in the states it will be shipped to (possibly you, since you have a C&R... I was an FFL at the time, and so that was simple).
The Form 4 took (I think) took about 45 days to be approved, at which time I sent a copy to the Australian dealer to ship the copy WITH the rifle.
The rifle arrived with the ATF Form 4, and the Australian Export Permit on the package.

That was it.  Long, but fairly simple.

Now, all that being said, I have no idea what it's like today... post 9/11, with the "E" added to the "ATF" now.

Paul F.

Used to work down under and imported my Smallbore prone rifle when returning to the US

Just like Paul said except I recall something else.  Importer of record in the US has to have a firearms importers license.  It's a extra license over a normal FFL.  Since my rifle was Anschutz and I knew the Anschutz importer I consigned it to him.   Could be because it was a modern rifle and you may not have to do that to antiques.  I handled the Australian export paperwork myself.

He had to stamp the receiver with his importer name. Gunsmithing Inc.  You see this done on most surplus firearms. Also and I don't know exactly why he had me specify repairs to be done. In this case it was just inspect and install different sight bases.  Said that made things easier.

Also the air freight was much higher on firearms. My US origin rifles that I registered with US Customs on leaving the US came and went as baggage with no paper work or extra charge at all.  I worked for a ship owner and could have put it on our own vessel but firearms greatly complicated the ships entry to the US.

I was down there when the Aussie dollar was 50 odd cents and there new firearms laws came in.  Lots of rough condition low walls for sale. The market price was set by the Australian governments buy back program. As I recall they would give you couple of hundred bucks for any single shot rifle.  At the time that was about what low walls in rough shape were selling for in the US so did not buy the half dozen I wish I had now. My club disposed of many Martinis at the time.

Would this pay today ? I saw a rough low wall in the US for sale this week for 1000 dollars. Guessing only it would cost 500 bucks or so to import one from Australia, and the Aussie dollar is in the 85 cent range.  I would recommend you get one of the established importers of record in the US to work your Stevens into there normal import program.  If something goes wrong with an individual shipment there are many pitfalls, extra cost as well as possible seize and destroy.  Importers would probalby handle the paperwork for a couple of hundred bucks.  I could give you a couple of names in the South East US if you like.

Boats

Paul you could well be correct. 

In my case was living in Australia and export paperwork was no problem. However as I was down there could not receive the rifle in the US so shipment to importer was the way to go. The receiver is marked now, not a problem for a modern target rifle but would not want to do that to a low wall.  Marking is a negative for sure.

Having dealt with import and export for years still say the best policy is to consign to established importer.   You can do it yourself but it has it's pitfalls,  Lately US Customs "intensive" exam is very common for new or one off shipments while importers that subscribe to the governments CTPAT security program are rarely inspected.  Intensive cost hundreds of dollars.

But it is possible to handle it yourself.

Boats