By rule, can a gunner merely knock the punt out of bounds?

Of course, I mean to effectively down the ball near the goal line that way instead of touching the ball inside the field of play.

If such a "swipe it OOB" is indeed legal, I'd coach-up my gunners that way.

Heck, to prevent a gunner from batting the punt OOB even closer to the goal line, using today's technology a "spot of bat" could easily be enacted.