Best prices in western MT?

The following statements are based on limited research and please correct me if I am wrong. Prices in the middle of the country are lower than the coasts for a few reasons. The cost of transporting scrap for refining, a lack of an overseas market without getting it to the coasts, fewer residents and therefore less scrap, less scrap means less investors willing to set up refining facilities, etc. Therefore the closer you get to the coasts or metropolitan areas the higher the price for metal. When the coasts run short of their quota of metal and start looking to the interior for metal, our prices go up. The problem is our prices never get as high as on the coasts. With that being said, your prices are lower than one would expect.

I am familiar with Montana and use to deal with a scrap yard in Billings. Because of oil and natural gas that have a good transportation system with the railroad for moving products to and from the coasts. Therefore they had better prices than the northwestern part. Based on the information you provided it is assumed you are in northwestern Montana, somewhere around Flathead Lake. It does not have access to the transportation system. If you are far enough south you might try Missoula. Unfortunately you cannot do much unless you follow SSA's advice. Then you could truck it to a railroad hub and shop for the best buyer, eliminating many middle men.

Sorry that it is not much help, but I am in the same situation. You cannot compare the prices in Montana with those in CA.