Good call Mike I like you press the bearings in place, or use a bolt/steel washer pull system. The only hammer I use is involved is in removing the old bearings and even with this method I use my custom (ground to size) deep well sockets, that only put pressure on the outside of the bearing case. Even distribution of the load on the outside of the bearing case is the only way to insure an undamaged bearing or engine case.

Locking it up in a vise only takes a extra few min and is wll worth the time IMHO.