Brake rotor stuck

It is a simple yet suborn problem and I want to know what a mechanic would do. I am replacing the front brakes on a 1999 c1500 GMC Suburban. Started on the front left side (do not even want to get into the other side until this one is done) come time to get the rotor off. I assumed it would be rusted on but nothing beyond a little hammering to get it off. But no. It is stuck. And I went and banged up the rotor in all my attempts so far. I have hit it with the backside of an ax. I have tried putting bolts through the caliper mount holes to force it off but the space between the caliper mount bracket (or whatever that is called - you know what I mean - the part that the whole caliper bolts onto) is so close to the rotor that I could only fit a 1/4 in. Nut in between it (the rotor and the caliper mount bracket)- those 1/4 in. Bolts could not hold up so they did not work. So forcing it of with bolts via the caliper mount holes will not work. So I am thinking about getting a hydraulic gear puller. I think this should do the trick but I would hate to get it and find out it still does not work and for some reason cannot pull it off. What is your advice? Is getting a gear puller a good idea? Or is there something else? What would a mechanic do?