And a friend of the accused was also prepared to forfeit $30,000 if he breached the bail.

But it was not enough to convince the registrar of Wagga Local Court to release Anthony Charles Debnam on his second bid for bail on Monday.

Debnam, 46, of Kooringal faces four charges after a .357 revolving rifle was allegedly found in a stereo speaker at his parents' home.

He was arrested on December 18 and charged with acquiring a firearm while subject to a firearm prohibition order, possessing an unauthorised prohibited firearm, possessing a shortened firearm without authority and possessing ammunition without a permit.

Debnam's first bail application before the court's deputy registrar last Friday was refused and the case was adjourned until Monday with an expectation a magistrate would hear a second application.

But a magistrate was not available and Debnam's application was heard by the court registrar.

Debnam appeared in court via an audio-visual link with the Junee Correctional Centre.

For much of the proceedings he slumped forward in his chair and coughed and wheezed.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Priscilla Jones opposed the bail application, saying Debnam had a long history of firearm offences, including some for which he had been jailed.

She said police held fears for the safety of witnesses and the community and believed there was an unacceptable risk Debnam would not front court if released.

She said DNA found on the loaded rifle's trigger and trigger guard matched Debnman.

Debnam's solicitor Zac Tankard opened his submission by saying the defence disagreed with "pretty much all" of Sgt Jones's argument.

He said there was simply no evidence Debnam would not appear in court.

He said there were no witnesses in the case apart from police.

"I would say there is no unacceptable risk in relation to interfering with witnesses," Mr Tankard said.

While conceding Debnam had a "terrible" criminal record, there was nothing significant since being released on parole in 2011, and there had been no breaches of bail for 13 years, Mr Tankard argued.

Mr Tankard said the presence of Debnam's DNA on the rifle did not prove his client possessed the weapon, which was found in a spare room of his parents' house.

"It's not a knock out blow," Mr Tankard said.

"I don't believe it is a strong case, at the end of the day it's a neutral case."

The registrar refused Debnam bail, saying the alleged offences were extremely serious and there were significant unacceptable risks to the community that could not be mitigated by bail conditions.

The case was adjourned to Wagga Local Court on January 5 at which time Debnman is expected to make a fresh bail application before a magistrate.