Browning Yellowstone Series Gun Safe

Browning Yellowstone 23-Gun Safe — Closed Exterior | Idaho Safe & Vault

Browning Yellowstone Series Gun Safe

YS23: 58"(H) x 30.6"(W) x 20"(D)

$1,449.00 $2,999.00

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Browning Yellowstone Series Gun Safe

$1,449.00 $2,999.00

ⓘ Product images are for reference only and may not exactly reflect the appearance of the actual safe.

Product Overview

A UL Listed Safe With the Coverage Most Home Collections Actually Need

The Yellowstone Series is Browning's entry-plus residential gun safe: 12-gauge steel body, UL Listed, 60 minutes of certified fire protection at 1,400 degrees F, and a DPX door panel system across all four variants. It is not the most bolt-heavy or fire-rated safe in the lineup. It is a genuinely capable product for buyers who need certified residential safe storage without the weight, complexity, or cost of a higher-tier purchase.

Four variants from the 490-pound YS23 to the 785-pound full-height YS49T cover the most common collection sizes and room configurations at this tier. The security spec is consistent across all four.

Fire Rating: 60 min at 1,400°F Security Level: 4 of 10: Balanced Protection Steel Body: 12-Gauge Variants: 4 models: 490 to 785 lbs

Find your variant · Full specifications · Common questions answered

Why UL Listed and 60-minute fire is actually adequate for most buyers:

UL Listed means the construction met an independent testing standard, not just a manufacturer claim. Sixty minutes of certified fire protection at 1,400 degrees F covers the residential fire scenario most buyers in standard suburban locations actually face. The question isn't whether more protection is available. It's whether you need it for your specific situation.

Three filters below confirm whether the Yellowstone is the right tier: then the variant guide points you to the right size.

Who It Fits

Who the Yellowstone Is Actually Built For

The Yellowstone is the safe for buyers who know what they actually need and who aren't interested in paying for capabilities their situation doesn't require. These filters confirm whether this is the right tier.

This Is Right For You If

You want a UL Listed gun safe at a straightforward price point: a certified construction standard, not just a manufacturer's protection claim
Your collection fits between 23 and 49 long guns, and one of four Yellowstone variants covers it without oversizing
You're in a standard suburban or residential location where fire suppression response is typically under 30 minutes: 60 minutes of certified fire protection covers that scenario with meaningful margin
An electronic keypad lock meets your access needs and a straightforward shelf configuration is fine for your collection
The Yellowstone's weight range (490 to 785 lbs) fits your delivery situation without requiring the advance assessment that heavier safes require

Not The Right Fit If

You need a mechanical combination lock. the Yellowstone is electronic keypad only with no mechanical or biometric option on any variant
You need an electrical outlet or interior LED lighting. neither is available on any Yellowstone variant
You need adjustable shelving: the Yellowstone uses standard non-adjustable shelves; if reconfigurability matters for how your collection changes, a higher-tier product is the answer
Your location has extended fire suppression response times, rural properties, mountain communities, or wildfire-exposure areas where fire may burn unattended well past 60 minutes call for more fire margin than the Yellowstone provides

Consider Stepping Up If

You want three-sided bolt engagement, more active bolts, and deeper fire insulation: the Sporter Series and above provide these at a modest price step, and comparing the two side by side is worth doing before you commit to either
An electrical outlet, LED lighting, or adjustable shelving is on your requirements list. the Sporter Series at the same security level includes outlet and LED on the HG49 DLX, and adjustable CMS shelving across most variants
Your location or collection value calls for more than the entry-plus tier provides

Take the quiz if you're working out whether the Yellowstone tier genuinely fits your situation.

This the right tier for your situation?

Our team can confirm whether the Yellowstone covers your actual needs or walk you through alternatives in one conversation.

Talk to a Safe Expert Visit the Showroom

The Value Case

What the Yellowstone Actually Delivers and What It Honestly Doesn't

The Yellowstone is the safe for buyers who don't need the ceiling of residential safe construction and who are looking for genuine certified protection at a practical price and weight. The honest value case starts with being clear about both sides of that.

What the Yellowstone delivers: UL Listed certification: an independent standard, not a manufacturer claim. Twelve-gauge steel body. Sixty minutes of certified fire protection. Four active bolts with two-sided engagement. DPX door panel. Four sizes from a manageable 490 pounds to a full-height 785-pound format.

What the Yellowstone doesn't deliver: Three-sided bolt engagement, five active bolts, adjustable shelving, outlet, or LED: those start at the Sporter tier and above. Extended fire protection past 60 minutes or above 1,400 degrees F, that starts at the Sporter's 95-minute rating and moves up from there. If you need these, the Yellowstone isn't the answer. If you don't, it is.

Security value: UL Listed means an independent testing body confirmed the construction meets a verified standard. For a buyer who wants to know the safe is real and not just a steel box with a lock, UL Listed is the meaningful certification at this tier. Four active round bolts on two sides of the door is genuine deterrence. the same caliber of residential theft the Yellowstone is built to address doesn't require more bolt coverage than this to be effectively blocked. What UL Listed actually means for your safe explains the standard in plain terms.

Fire value: Sixty minutes of certified fire protection at 1,400 degrees F is real coverage for a standard suburban or residential fire scenario where suppression response arrives within 30 minutes of ignition. That's the majority of residential locations in the Treasure Valley and surrounding communities. The Yellowstone isn't built for the extended wildfire scenarios that affect rural properties across Western Idaho and Eastern Oregon. if that describes your location, a higher fire rating is the honest answer. For everyone else, this tier covers the scenario. What fire ratings actually test explains what 60 minutes means in practice.

Configuration value: Four variants from 490 to 785 pounds with no width issues across the lineup: every Yellowstone passes a standard 36-inch doorway. A DPX door panel on all four variants handles daily-access items. Standard non-adjustable shelves work well for a stable collection that isn't expected to change frequently in configuration. The YS49T adds a full 72-inch height for buyers who have ceiling clearance and want maximum interior volume without stepping up to a heavier safe tier. The sizing guide covers which variant fits which collection.

Idaho Safe & Vault Perspective: The Yellowstone conversation in our Caldwell showroom usually runs short. The buyer knows what they need, the safe covers it, and the decision is mostly about which variant fits the space. Occasionally a buyer arrives thinking they want a Yellowstone and leaves with a Sporter recommendation because the outlet or the adjustable shelving actually matters for how they plan to use it. When that's the case, we say so. When it isn't, the Yellowstone is a solid product and there's no reason to spend more.

Common Mistakes

Where Yellowstone Buyers Tend to Second-Guess the Right Decision

Most Yellowstone buyers arrive with the right instinct and then talk themselves out of it. These four corrections address the most common second-guesses.

Misconception:

"Four active bolts and two-sided engagement isn't a serious safe. I should get more bolts to be properly protected."

Reality:

UL Listed certification confirms the Yellowstone's construction met an independent testing standard, that standard applies regardless of bolt count. Four active bolts with two-sided engagement is the baseline for meaningful residential deterrence. The thief who's going to be stopped by this safe is effectively stopped by 4 bolts, and the thief who won't be stopped by it won't be stopped by 8 either: they're different threat scenarios, not the same one scaled up. What actually determines whether a safe deters residential theft covers this distinction plainly.

Misconception:

"60 minutes at 1,400°F isn't much fire protection. I should spend more and get 90 or 95 minutes."

Reality:

Whether 60 minutes is enough depends on where you live. In standard suburban or residential communities, which covers most of the Treasure Valley and surrounding areas: fire suppression response arrives within 15 to 30 minutes of ignition under typical conditions. Sixty minutes of certified protection is coverage with margin for that scenario. If your property is rural, remote, or in a wildfire corridor where response times are longer, the Yellowstone's 60-minute rating may genuinely not be enough and a step up is the honest call. For most buyers in standard locations, it is. How fire ratings are tested and how to read them helps you evaluate your specific situation.

Misconception:

"The Sporter is barely more money for a lot more safe. I might as well just get that instead."

Reality:

Maybe. But "barely more money for a lot more safe" is only a good argument if the additional safe is something you actually need. If your collection is stable and fits the Yellowstone, your location has typical suburban fire response, you don't need outlet or adjustable shelving, and the construction gap between the two doesn't correspond to a real gap in your protection picture: then the Sporter's additions are capabilities you'll never use. Spend the money on something else. If any of those things aren't true, then yes, the Sporter comparison is worth a harder look. How to compare adjacent tiers before you decide covers the specific differences.

Misconception:

"Standard non-adjustable shelves means this safe is less organized and less useful than one with adjustable shelving."

Reality:

Non-adjustable standard shelves work well for a stable collection configuration that isn't expected to change frequently. If you know roughly what you're storing and it fits the standard shelf layout, adjustable shelving is a convenience you're not paying for, not a missing feature. Adjustable shelving becomes valuable when your collection changes often or when you need to reconfigure for unusual platforms. If that describes your situation, the Sporter's CMS system is worth having. If it doesn't, the Yellowstone's standard shelves are fine for the job.

With those clarified, here is what Balanced Protection at the entry-plus level actually delivers.

Protection Profile

What the Yellowstone Actually Delivers on Fire and Security

The Yellowstone is an entry-plus product at Security Level 4 in Idaho Safe & Vault's protection system. What protection tiers mean in construction terms gives the full framework. The honest picture here is consistent with that: a UL Listed, 12-gauge steel safe with 60-minute fire coverage that does what entry-plus is designed to do, and that has clearly defined limits above which a different product is the answer.

Fire Protection

30 min90 min150 min

60 minutes of certified fire protection.

At 60 minutes at 1,400 degrees F, the Yellowstone carries genuine certified fire coverage for standard residential locations. The ThermaBlock insulation system covers ceiling, body, and door: ceiling at 1-1/2 inches, body at 1 inch, door at 1 inch. The 1,400 degrees F test temperature is the lowest among Browning gun safes: an honest distinction when comparing across tiers. The body insulation at 1 inch is thinner than all Browning products above it. For buyers in typical suburban residential settings, this is adequate coverage. For buyers in rural communities, mountain locations, or wildfire-exposure zones in Western Idaho and Eastern Oregon where fire may burn unattended well past the 60-minute mark, a higher-rated product is the right call. What fire ratings test for and how to compare them helps make that determination.

Security and Theft Resistance

4 active round bolts. Two-sided engagement. UL Listed. 12-gauge body.

The Yellowstone's 4 active round bolts engage the door frame on two sides: top and one side of the door: through a standard cam-driven locking mechanism in electronic keypad configuration. UL Listed verification confirms the construction met an independent testing standard. Two-sided engagement is the baseline for residential gun safe security; it addresses the primary bolt-side attack vectors that residential burglary focuses on. What the Yellowstone doesn't provide is three-sided engagement (adding the second side of the door), which the Sporter and above carry. What the Yellowstone's construction resists and where it stops gives the honest picture.

This matters most if:

Standard suburban location. Stable collection. UL Listed certification the priority. Practical weight and price.

The Yellowstone is the right choice when your situation genuinely fits the entry-plus tier: standard suburban fire response, a collection that fits the available variants, access needs met by an electronic keypad, and no requirements for outlet, LED, or adjustable shelving. It is a meaningful safe, not a compromise on protection, but a match between your actual situation and the tier built for it.

This becomes limiting when:

Rural or wildfire-exposure location. Outlet, LED, or adjustable shelving required. Mechanical lock needed.

If your location has extended fire suppression response, the 60-minute rating at 1,400 degrees F may not be adequate. If outlet, LED, adjustable shelving, or a mechanical combination lock are requirements, they aren't available on any Yellowstone variant. If your collection's value or location's risk profile calls for three-sided bolt engagement or a full-coverage door inner plate, the Sporter or higher tiers are where those features start. These aren't arguments to step up if the limitations don't apply. They are if they do.

Protection scale

Where the Yellowstone Sits on the Protection Scale

The Yellowstone sits at the entry-plus level of Balanced Protection in Idaho Safe & Vault's four-tier system. It is above the FMJ entry tier and below the Sporter's mid-tier configuration breadth. Both the Yellowstone and Sporter share Security Level 4. the difference is in fire protection depth, bolt coverage, and accessory configuration. The Yellowstone's position is accurate for what it is: a UL Listed, 12-gauge residential safe appropriate for standard home protection situations.

Enhanced ProtectionFour-sided rectangular bolts. Duo-Formed door. 90+ minute fire.

Balanced Protection: Mid tier and aboveThree-sided bolts. CMS adjustable shelves. 95-minute fire. Outlet + LED options.

Balanced Protection: Entry Plus You are here

12-gauge body. 4 active round bolts. Two-sided engagement. 60-minute fire at 1,400°F. UL Listed.

Essential Protection

Cabinet (Pre-Tier)

How all four protection levels compare in construction and fire

Idaho Safe & Vault

Why Buy the Yellowstone From Idaho Safe & Vault

Idaho Safe & Vault has been the Treasure Valley's dedicated safe and vault dealer for 32 years, with more than 3,500 deliveries and installations across a 150-mile footprint covering Caldwell, the Wood River Valley, McCall, and Eastern Oregon. The Yellowstone's weight range: 490 to 785 pounds across four variants: makes it one of the more accessible deliveries in the full Browning lineup. That doesn't mean the delivery is casual: we still confirm the route before the truck leaves, and we offer anchoring on every garage install because the weight difference between anchored and unanchored changes the protection equation significantly at any weight.

The Yellowstone conversation in our showroom tends to be short and productive. The buyer knows what they need, and if the Yellowstone covers it, the decision is mostly about which variant fits the space. When a buyer arrives thinking they want a Yellowstone and leaves with a Sporter recommendation: because the outlet or adjustable shelving actually matters for how they plan to use it. we say so. The goal is the right safe, not the sale. What a long-term relationship with a local safe dealer looks like covers what that means in practice.

Factory-authorized Browning dealer, full lineup access, manufacturer-backed support
In-house delivery for all four Yellowstone variants; YS49T at 785 lbs receives standard pre-delivery route confirmation
Anchoring service available on delivery for all variants
Electronic keypad service, battery guidance, and safe diagnostics for the full life of the safe
What our installation process looks like from first contact to final anchor

Pick Your Variant

Which Yellowstone Is Right for Your Situation

Four variants, no width issues, simple decision. Buy one size larger than your current collection requires: safes fill faster than rated-capacity numbers suggest. All four variants share the same security spec: 12-gauge body, 4 active bolts (7 total), two-sided engagement, UL Listed, 60-minute fire at 1,400°F, electronic keypad only. The variables are height, width, and interior volume.

Variant Decision Guide

Do you need the safe to be 72 inches tall? Yes: YS49T. No: continue below.

Is your collection between 40 and 49 long guns? Yes: YS49 or YS49T. No: continue below.

Under 40 guns or is your space width-constrained? Up to 40 guns / standard width: YS40. Up to 23 / narrower: YS23.

YS49T

Full-Height Format

Weight: 785 lbs

Exterior: 72"H × 42"W × 24.5"D

Interior: 67.5"H × 39.5"W × 18.5"D

Rated capacity: Up to 49 long guns

Interior: 43 cu ft · 3 HCBRs · standard shelves · DPX door

The only full-height Yellowstone at 72 inches, heaviest at 785 lbs. Pre-delivery route confirmation recommended. All other Yellowstone variants are 58 inches tall.

YS49

Standard Wide Format

Weight: 680 lbs

Exterior: 58"H × 42"W × 24.5"D

Interior: 53.5"H × 39.5"W × 18.5"D

Rated capacity: Up to 49 long guns

Interior: 33 cu ft · 3 HCBRs · standard shelves · DPX door

Same width and rated capacity as YS49T, 14 inches shorter. Right if ceiling height or floor-load is a constraint but you still need 49-gun capacity.

YS40

Standard Mid Format

Weight: 563 lbs

Exterior: 58"H × 36"W × 24.5"D

Interior: 53.5"H × 33.5"W × 18.5"D

Rated capacity: Up to 40 long guns

Interior: 30 cu ft · 2 HCBRs · standard shelves · DPX door

The width step-down from YS49: 6 inches narrower, 10 fewer rated guns. Right for collections in the 20 to 35 gun range that don't need the wider format.

YS23

Compact Format

Weight: 490 lbs

Exterior: 58"H × 29.5"W × 20"D

Interior: 53.5"H × 28"W × 13.5"D

Rated capacity: Up to 23 long guns

Interior: 20 cu ft · 2 Barrel Racks · standard shelves · DPX door

Notably shallower at 20" depth vs 24.5" on other variants. Lightest and most compact Yellowstone at 490 lbs. Right for smaller collections or depth-constrained placements.

How rated capacity is calculated and what it means in practice. the door number is always higher than realistic capacity with scoped rifles and accessories.

Caldwell Showroom

See the Yellowstone Before You Decide

5602 Cleveland Blvd, Caldwell ID 83607 Approximately 40 safes on display Full Browning lineup carried Mon–Fri 9AM–6PM · Sat 10AM–4PM

The most productive Yellowstone showroom visit is usually one that also includes looking at the Sporter side by side. The construction differences are visible and tactile in a way that specs don't fully convey. the door feel, the bolt engagement, the interior shelf configuration. Most buyers who arrive uncertain between the two resolve the decision quickly once they see both. Some confirm the Yellowstone is exactly right. Some realize the Sporter's adjustable shelving or outlet matters more than they thought.

We carry the Yellowstone alongside the full Browning lineup, so you can make the comparison in person before committing to either. What to expect from a showroom visit covers how to make the most of the trip.

Full Specifications

Browning Yellowstone Series: Specifications

Specification	Value (consistent across all variants unless noted)
Security Level	4 of 10: Balanced Protection (Entry Plus)
Steel Body Gauge	12-gauge steel body: what steel gauge means in practice
Door Construction	1" formed door with partial inner plate
Fire Rating	60 minutes at 1,400°F
Fire Insulation	ThermaBlock system: ceiling 1.5", body 1", door 1"
Locking Mechanism	Cam-driven locking mechanism: lock types explained
Lock Configuration	UL Listed electronic keypad only. no mechanical combination or biometric option on any Yellowstone variant
Locking Bolts	Round chrome-plated steel bolts; 7 total (4 active, 3 structural); two-sided engagement (top and one side)
Bolt Dimensions	1" diameter (round)
UL Listing	UL Listed: what UL listings mean
Interior System	Standard non-adjustable carpet-covered shelves; High Capacity Barrel Racks (3 on YS49T and YS49; 2 on YS40 and YS23)
Door Storage	DPX door panel: Quick Access Barrel Rack, pistol pouches, and mesh pouches: all four variants
Electrical Outlet	Not included on any variant
Interior Lighting	Not included on any variant
Flooring	Elevated floor: all variants
Country of Origin	Not specified in manufacturer catalog: contact Idaho Safe & Vault to confirm before purchase if required
Available Variants	YS49T: 72"H × 42"W × 24.5"D ext · 67.5"H × 39.5"W × 18.5"D int · 785 lbs · 49 guns rated · 43 cu ft YS49: 58"H × 42"W × 24.5"D ext · 53.5"H × 39.5"W × 18.5"D int · 680 lbs · 49 guns rated · 33 cu ft YS40: 58"H × 36"W × 24.5"D ext · 53.5"H × 33.5"W × 18.5"D int · 563 lbs · 40 guns rated · 30 cu ft YS23: 58"H × 29.5"W × 20"D ext · 53.5"H × 28"W × 13.5"D int · 490 lbs · 23 guns rated · 20 cu ft

Capacity ratings reflect manufacturer-standard baseline (upright long guns, no accessories). Realistic capacity with scoped rifles and door storage will be lower. Confirm your requirements with Idaho Safe & Vault before finalizing your variant selection.

Specifications are subject to manufacturer change. Country of origin not confirmed in current specifications: verify with Idaho Safe & Vault before purchase. Confirm current specifications before purchase.

Ready to commit to a variant?

Our team can confirm your variant and plan delivery in one call or steer you to a different product if the Yellowstone genuinely doesn't fit.

Talk to a Safe Expert Visit the Showroom

Placement Guidance

Where to Put Your Yellowstone Series

No doorway width issues. YS49T height and weight deserve advance confirmation. All other variants are straightforward.

All four Yellowstone variants pass standard 36-inch doorways, widest is 42 inches. At 490 to 785 pounds, the weight range is among the more manageable in the Browning lineup, though these still require proper delivery handling. Placement is permanent once anchored. The placement planning guide covers the key variables.

YS49T height: At 72 inches, the YS49T needs full ceiling clearance at the placement location. Standard 7-foot garage ceilings are tight with a 72-inch safe: measure at the placement location before delivery, not after.
Garage placement (most common): Anchoring recommended. At 490 to 785 pounds, all Yellowstone variants can be tipped and moved with standard moving equipment if left unanchored. Anchoring converts weight from deterrent to immovable. We offer anchoring as a delivery service.
Closet and bedroom placement: The YS23 at 29.5 inches wide and 20 inches deep is the most closet-compatible Yellowstone. All variants are 58 or 72 inches tall: confirm ceiling clearance and door swing (approximately 90 degrees) before finalizing placement.
Electronic lock and batteries: No outlet on any variant means no hardwired dehumidifier rod or internal charging. Replace the keypad battery on a regular schedule: twice a year for garage placements with significant seasonal temperature swings. Keep a spare 9-volt in a known location for external battery contact entry if the primary battery dies.

Delivery & Installation

Getting the Yellowstone Into Place

The Yellowstone is among the more accessible deliveries in the Browning lineup by weight. The approach is still deliberate. What our delivery and installation process looks like covers the full approach. Here is what matters most at this weight class.

What happens on delivery day: Jason or Merlin leads the job with a partner. Before scheduling, we confirm the delivery route: doorway clearances, hallway widths at corners, any steps or thresholds, and the final placement location with anchoring plan. At 490 to 785 pounds, the Yellowstone variants are manageable with professional equipment on a pre-confirmed route. The YS49T at 785 lbs and 72 inches tall is the variant that most benefits from having the route confirmed before the truck leaves. the height adds a handling consideration on any stepped surface.

On DIY delivery: The YS23 at 490 lbs and YS40 at 563 lbs are within range of what two people with a rental appliance dolly can handle on a flat, single-level route with no tight corners. Every step up in weight and height adds risk at points the spec sheet doesn't describe. The DIY versus professional delivery comparison covers where things go wrong and what changes the risk at each weight class.

Doorway clearance: All four variants (29.5 to 42 inches wide) pass standard 36-inch interior doors with margin. Corner approach angles and tight hallways still need to be confirmed at the heavier end of the range.
Steps: No Yellowstone variant is a hand-carry job on a staircase. Steps require proper re-blocking and controlled movement regardless of safe weight.
Anchoring: We recommend anchoring on every garage install and handle it as part of the delivery service for customers who want it. What the complete install looks like covers the full sequence.

Decision Summary

Is the Yellowstone the Right Call?

The honest answer is shorter than most PDPs make it.

Buy this if

You're in a standard suburban or residential location and 60 minutes of fire protection at 1,400 degrees F genuinely covers your scenario
UL Listed certification is the priority and the rest of the spec fits your collection and access needs
You don't need outlet, LED, adjustable shelving, or a mechanical lock
One of the four variants fits your collection size and space

Step up to the Sporter if

Outlet, LED, or adjustable shelving is on your checklist. the Sporter includes all three in configurations the Yellowstone doesn't offer
Three-sided bolt engagement, more active bolts, or deeper fire insulation matches a real gap in your situation
You're in a rural or extended-response location where 60 minutes at 1,400 degrees F isn't enough fire margin

Compare the Yellowstone and Sporter side by side.

Stay confident if

The filters above confirm the Yellowstone genuinely fits. Don't buy up because of abstract concern: buy up because of a specific gap. If there's no specific gap, this is the right safe.

Common Questions

Yellowstone Series: Questions We Hear Most

Is the Yellowstone actually secure enough or should I just spend more and get the Sporter?

The Yellowstone is a UL Listed, 12-gauge safe with 4 active bolts and two-sided engagement. That is a real security product, not a prop. Whether you should step up to the Sporter depends on your specific situation, not on an abstract desire to have the "better" safe. If your collection, location, and use case fit the Yellowstone, buying the Sporter adds capabilities you won't use. If your situation calls for three-sided engagement, more bolts, deeper fire protection, outlet, or adjustable shelving, then the Sporter is worth the step. The question to ask is not "which one is better" but "which one fits what I actually need."

Is 60 minutes of fire protection at 1,400°F actually enough?

For most buyers in standard suburban or residential locations, which covers most of the Treasure Valley and surrounding communities: yes. Fire suppression response in typical residential areas arrives within 15 to 30 minutes of ignition under normal conditions. Sixty minutes of certified protection covers that scenario with margin. The honest caveat: if your property is rural, remote, or in a fire corridor where response times are measured in hours rather than minutes, 60 minutes at 1,400 degrees F is not enough and a higher-rated product is the right call. What fire ratings test for and how to compare them helps you evaluate your specific location.

What is the difference between the Yellowstone and Sporter at the construction level?

Three specific differences. First, bolt engagement: the Yellowstone has 4 active bolts on two sides of the door (top and one side); the Sporter has 5 active bolts on three sides (top and both sides). Second, fire protection: the Yellowstone is 60 minutes at 1,400 degrees F; the Sporter is 95 minutes at 1,200 degrees F, longer duration at a different test temperature, with thicker body insulation (1-1/4 inches versus 1 inch). Third, interior system: the Yellowstone uses standard non-adjustable shelves; the Sporter uses adjustable CMS shelving on most variants. The Sporter also offers outlet and LED options the Yellowstone doesn't. Both use the same steel gauge and basic cam-driven locking mechanism.

Why does the YS49T have more cubic feet than the YS49 if they have the same rated gun capacity?

The YS49T is 72 inches tall versus the YS49's 58 inches, that extra 14 inches of exterior height adds interior volume (43 versus 33 cubic feet) and allows for more shelf configurations. The rated gun capacity is calculated based on upright barrel storage, which both formats accommodate. In practice, the YS49T's additional height gives you more flexibility for mixed collections: long guns, handguns, and accessories without the interior feeling crowded. If ceiling height at your placement location limits you to 58 inches, the YS49 gives you the same gun count in a shorter format.

The Yellowstone and Sporter are both Security Level 4. Why is the Sporter considered a step up?

Security Level 4 covers a range of products within the Balanced Protection tier, not all of them identical in spec. The Yellowstone is an entry-plus product within that tier: fewer active bolts, two-sided engagement, thinner insulation, shorter fire duration, and no outlet or LED. The Sporter is a mid-tier product at the same security level with more bolt coverage, deeper fire insulation, a longer fire rating, and outlet and LED options. Think of Security Level 4 as a tier rather than a single spec point. the Yellowstone is at the accessible end, the Sporter in the middle, and other Level 4 products further along. Same tier, meaningfully different specs within it.

Does the Yellowstone need to be bolted down at 490 to 785 pounds?

Yes. Weight deters casual or opportunistic theft attempts. It doesn't stop a prepared attempt that arrives with moving equipment. An unanchored 490-pound safe in a garage can be tipped onto a furniture dolly and removed in well under two minutes by two people with basic equipment. Anchoring converts weight into genuine immovability: a safe that can't be moved without the same preparation required to place it is a fundamentally different security product than one that's merely heavy. We recommend anchoring on every garage install and offer it as part of the delivery service.

Keep Going

Where to Go From Here

Choosing a Tier

"I'm between the Yellowstone and the Sporter. What exactly changes and how do I decide which one is right without overbuying?"

How protection tiers compare in construction, fire, and bolt coverage →

Fire Ratings

"What does 60 minutes at 1,400°F actually mean for the contents inside and how does my location affect whether that's enough?"

How fire ratings are tested and how to evaluate them for your location →

Sizing

"I'm looking at two or three variants. How do I work out which one actually fits my collection and what does the rated gun count mean?"

The sizing guide: how to choose the right safe for your collection →

Ready to Move Forward

Talk Through the Yellowstone Decision With Us

Our team can confirm whether the Yellowstone is the right tier and help you choose between the four variants in one conversation. If the Sporter is the better call, we'll say so.

Talk to a Safe Expert Visit the Showroom in Caldwell

Not sure which tier is right for your situation? Our quiz routes you to the right product in about 3 minutes.