That is the most accurate way unfortunately. What I do is before removing the OEM ones, turn them fully counter-clockwise until they touch the stops. Then I put some tape on the faceplate, and make a pen mark where the tip of the needle is pointing. Then after you replace them, you can turn the needle counter-clockwise again, go past the stop (all the way around again if you have to) until it lines up with your mark. If replacing the faceplate, make the same mark on new faceplate. You can get them pretty close this way. Also before removing the needles, plug and unplug the cluster a few times and see where they point after the 'calibration' thing where the needles look like they're having a seizure. (the cluster is driving them 360 degrees counter-clockwise (against the stop), so it can guarantee they're pointing where it thinks they are)
Usually they're pointing just a bit below 'zero' when fully turned against the stops.
I've also left them slightly loose (still stuck on the shaft, but loose enough to move) and driven around watching the GPS / tach readout with a bluetooth OBDII reader. Then I can just reach in and 'nudge' them to the correct spot before fully pressing them down (while stopped of course).
