Two things: 1.) As a follow-up to what Majorlk said, if the bullets are crimped or lacquer sealed (think military .45 ACP ball ammo, you can break the seal by running each round through a reloading press with the seating die in, set just low enough to push the bullet into the case slightly to break the seal. After that, use the bullet puller and bang away and you'll get the bullet out much more easily. 2.) I put a cotton ball in the bottom of the tube, to save the point of spitzer-type rifle bullets. Works well. This is not much of a factor with pistol bullets, though.