I plan to spend couple of months in Europe this winter and do some hunting. Could barrow rifles from friends, but I like the feel of my own. I have never taken a firearm out of the country. What kind of permits do I need, from what authorities? My plan is to leave this rifle in Europe with properly licenced friends, and use it whenever my travel takes me there.
Thanks for help: Matt

COuntries have differetn laws. Leaving with a friend may or may not be doable. HAve them find out for you

As for the US, just make sure you bring the rifle by a US CUstoms office an dget a Customs Declaration form. If not, you could very well wind up having to "import" your own firearm when you return to the US, requiring a gun dealer to file an ATF Form 6, plus you pay duty on the rifle. COuld wind up having to leave it in bonded sotrage and use a customs broker in a worse case scenario. Can get very expensive in a hurry, plus you will likely miss a connecting flight. ALl depends on which CUstoms officer you get when you return into the country, but they are all getting more strict these days. Takes all of 10 minutes to get th eform if there is a Customs office near you

I had a painless experience going to the UK. I had a well versed person on the other end doing the licensing work in England.

Marc is absolutely correct on the need of getting the appropriate US customs forms filled out (4457). I would also list any high dollar non US made item that you might be taking out the country--Scope, Bino's, camera etc., that might be mistaken as new. If you have a customs office near you, it will likely take about 20 minutes. I have been to declare guns at three different sites and the procedure has been somewhat different at each. Call before hand and have them go over what is expected. In Jackson,MS and Birmingham you must bring the gun inside and if you do that in Memphis, you may develope an onging relationship with a lawyer.

This site might help US Customs

Do I have to contact U.S. Customs even if I never intend to bring this rifle back? It will presented as a gift to a friend with proper permits. I will have to pay duty which shouldn't be bad on a $300 bush-beater( Ruger M77 MK-II SS 270 Win, Weaver GS 4.5-14x40)

I believe you would be breaking the law if you did not have an export license.