Issue bullet that's harmless at close range (5-5)
I believe the answer is:
point-blank
'at close range' is the definition.
(at point-blank range)
'issue bullet that's harmless' is the wordplay.
'issue' becomes 'point'.
'bullet that's harmless' becomes 'blank' (a dummy bullet).
'point'+'blank'='POINT-BLANK'
(Another definition for point-blank that I've seen is " Abrupt, direct".)
I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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