Managed to fire rifle (7)

I believe the answer is:

ransack

'rifle' is the definition.
('ransack' can be a synonym of 'rifle')

'managed to fire' is the wordplay.
'managed' becomes 'ran' (I've seen this before).
'to fire' becomes 'sack' ('sack' can be a synonym of 'fire').
'ran'+'sack'='RANSACK'

(Other definitions for ransack that I've seen before include "Search (a place) thoroughly" , "Pillage, loot" , "Search thoroughly and roughly" , "Plunder; search ruthlessly" , "Turn upside down in searching" .)

I've seen this clue in The Globe and Mail, The Telegraph, The Independent, The Guardian, The Sun and The Times.

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