Brendon Hustler, who pleaded guilty to a string of firearm and drug offences on Tuesday at the Ballarat Magistrates Court, was told drugs and unregistered guns did not do anyone any good.

"They're very easy for people to get their hands on and do terrifying things with," magistrate Mary Robertson said at the conclusion of the plea hearing.

The court heard Hustler was intercepted in Moore Street where police found a number of items on Hustler and in his car, including an inoperable rusty 1850's era pistol, an envelope with .22 caliber cartridges, a flick knife, cannabis, ice, and syringes.

He told police he found the pistol in a dam and was hoping to make money from it. 

Hustler also said he did not realise the knife was illegal to carry around and added the event was a "wake up call".

Just over a month later police searched the accused's house and found 23g of cannabis, two unregistered double-barrel shotguns and 0.1g of ice.

Hustler, who was on bail over the previous matter, told police the guns, which were broken down and tied firmly together, were family heirlooms and had sentimental value. 

Hustler's lawyer, David Taminika, said while his client – who had no criminal history – was in the possession of guns, he did not use any of them and there was no suggestion he was arming himself for offensive or defensive reasons.

As for the ammunition, Mr Taminika said his client had simply left it in his jacket and forgot it was there. He added he did not own a gun they could be used in.

He said the impact of the death of his sister a few years earlier resulted in his client dabbling in ice use, but since the police raid he had stopped using the drug.

Hustler was convicted and placed on a 12-month community corrections order.

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In a separate case, a Ballarat man who pleaded guilty to his third drink-driving charge has been taken off the road for almost two years.

The Ballarat Magistrates Court on Tuesday heard police first noticed Bradley McInerney after he did not dip his high-beam headlights on Dyson Drive close to midnight on April 6.

They followed McInerney who then drove without any lights on at all.

When he was intercepted he blew 0.114, to which he later pleaded guilty.

McInerney told police he had an argument with his partner and was going to get cigarettes from the supermarket.

He said he did not realise he was driving without his headlights on. 

His lawyer told the court he was diagnosed with a number of conditions including schizophrenia and anxiety.

McInerney also told magistrate Mary Robertson he stopped drinking alcohol after the incident.

Ms Robertson said while she acknowledged he had schizophrenia and anxiety, it was no excuse.

"This is your third drink-drive ... that's not good enough," she said.

"Next time you drink-drive you could do something to kill someone."

McInerney was convicted and fined $700.

His licence was cancelled and he was disqualified from driving for 22 months.

He will need to complete a safe driver program before he can apply for his licence again.