Jason "Stickers" Baldwin, a 20-year-old father of one, will appeal the sentence, which includes a non-parole period of eight months.

He pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm while a prohibited person and filing off the serial number at the Ballarat Magistrates' Court on Wednesday.

The court was told Baldwin's friend had called him about 2am on Wednesday morning as he was in an argument with a neighbour about parking, and needed "muscle" after she got her friends to join her.

Baldwin, who is on a community corrections order after serving time for an aggravated home invasion wielding a weapon, arrived at Primrose Street, Wendouree holding the slug gun.

His defence lawyer Scott Belcher said Baldwin did not "brandish" the weapon, and no witnesses said he pointed it at anyone - instead, he had helped defuse the situation.

"He was doing some mediation on the wild streets of the wild west," Mr Belcher said.

Police found the gun in the bushes when they attended, and Baldwin made full admissions.

Despite this, and Baldwin's early guilty plea, Magistrate Gregory Robinson said it was "very, very serious offending".

"For anyone to show up at a neighbourhood dispute with a firearm - a low powered slug gun or (otherwise) - he showed up in public with a weapon that most people in the community, when confronted, would assume would be used against them," he said.

"A slug gun's just as serious when you're at the other end.

"The message should be sent, if you're having an argument with neighbours and you produce a firearm to solve it and court gives you a fine? That's inappropriate."

Baldwin was granted bail to appeal the verdict under strict conditions, including staying away from Primrose Street.

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