Cut down ends in oak dowels

I have some dowels I need the ends cut down to fit into a hole. The one dowel is currently 5/8" and I want the end to be 3/8" diameter. I was thinking of doing it the same was as I did half lap joints where I attached a piece to the fence before the blade on a table saw. Used the miter gauge and held the end of the stock up against the stop I attached. Than ran the piece through the blade. In doing it with a doll I'd have to make several passes rotating the dowel slightly each time so I get a perfectly round end. I don't own a radial arm saw and I don't trust my harbor freight miter saw for this. Is my way good enough or is there a better way? Btw the pieces are only going to be 7-10 inches long and won't extend over the side of the table saw