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Imitating a noise of a bullet (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

aping

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'imitating' is the definition.
('ape' can be a synonym of 'imitate')

'a noise of a bullet' is the wordplay.
'noise of a bullet' becomes 'ping' (I can't justify this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'a'+'ping'='APING'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for aping that I've seen before include "Sending up" , "Acting like a parrot" , "Imitating, copying" , "Trying to repeat" , "Taking off" .)

I've seen this clue in The Irish News.
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