Is there another way? The problem is that dowels swell in humid weather, especially when they are sized to fit tightly without glue, as in IKEA furniture, and it can be hard to seat them completely. It’s even harder to take the furniture apart, and pulling at it can twist and damage the joint. A mallet makes it easy to apply force along the axis of the dowels.
But you obviously have enough experience to have a method that works. I accept that your reply was made in the absence of mallets. 
