Freight charges are high because there are very few agents
who handle firearms and insurance. It is the hangling charges that make up the major portion of the bill. I recently sent 10 kg of books to Greece, sea mail 6 months was AUS $193 , air mail A$213. I also sent a gun to the UK, actual airfreight was only under $AUS 200, but insurance and hanlding chargers took it up to just under AUS $1000.