$1500 is high, unless the gun is very valuable (as it is subject to a 2.6% import duty). If you are not in a hurry, piggy-backing with SKB might be a good idea. I decided to go solo with the expectation of faster receipt of the gun, but the UK export and US import permits were slow in coming. My gun was purchased in mid-Sept. and arrived stateside earlier this week - I hope to receive it next week. My sense is that is a little on the slow side but not remarkably so.

Such a long, long time to be gone, and a short time to be there.