The 27-year-old will serve a total of 18 months, but has already been in custody more than 15 months since his arrest.

He and Dusty Lyons had been threatening each other on November 15, 2018 outside units on Hague Street in Wodonga.

Lyons tried to sneak away, but was followed by Bourke who shot the firearm 60 centimetres away from his victim's head, causing about 20 particles to fly into his forehead.

Justice Jane Dixon sentenced him on Monday to 18 months in jail, plus a two-year community corrections order with 200 hours of unpaid work and drug treatment programs on his release.

She said it was fortunate Mr Lyons was not killed.

"Your actions in firing a loaded firearm in a public place, in close proximity to Mr Lyons, were completely reprehensible," she said in Wodonga Supreme Court.

"You showed contempt for the law in behaving the way you did."

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Bourke had pleaded guilty on Wednesday to reckless conduct endangering life, being a prohibited person possessing a firearm and possessing ammunition.

Justice Dixon said the crime was more serious because Bourke had followed his victim, who had jumped over his neighbour's fence to try to get away.

"The firearm discharged by you at the time was never recovered. However, I am prepared to accept that it was a single-shot weapon," she said.

"The fact is, you pursued Lyons whilst carrying a firearm that was loaded with a live round."

Mr Lyons was not seriously injured and the particles in his forehead were removed, but he described it as a traumatic incident.

He had denied Bourke's claim he was armed with a knife at the time, saying he had been holding a pen from filling out his Centrelink forms.

Justice Dixon said it was probable Mr Lyons did have a knife during the earlier argument between he and Bourke, which was seen by other witnesses, as the "suggestion of a pen seems rather implausible".

"I consider his credit on this issue to be questionable," she said.

But she did not believe My Lyons still had the knife at the time of the shooting.

The court heard Bourke had been using ice at the time of the argument and shooting, and he admitted he had a drug problem.

"The offending was made more serious by the fact that it occurred in daylight in a residential location, at a time when members of the public were out and about in the area," Judge Dixon said.

"The fact that you had a motive to be angry with Lyons, in no way excuses your conduct in firing a loaded firearm so close to his head.

"You are fortunate that you are not facing an even more serious charge than that of recklessly endangering life."

She said his family and work history meant he had good prospects of rehabilitation.

"I am only too well aware of the disastrous effect of drugs like ice on country communities and I hope you will not contribute to that in the future," she said.