NSW man with loaded gun in pants arrested

A young man was arrested when police discovered a loaded gun down his pants during a car check in the state's north.

Police stopped the vehicle, containing four men, in South Grafton on Tuesday night, where they found a machete, a knife, methylamphetamine and bullets in the car.

Searches of the male passengers revealed a loaded .22 calibre sawn-off rifle down the pants of the 23-year-old and prescription drugs on a 27-year-old man.

The 23-year-old was charged with numerous firearm offences.

He was refused bail and is due to appear at Grafton Local Court on Wednesday.

The 27-year-old was charged with possessing a restricted substance and is due to appear at Grafton Local Court on April 20.