the present disclosure allows for safe handling of perforating guns on drilling rigs it allows the guns to be assembled into work strings and lowered into a borehole automatically so that workers are not exposed to injury from accidental ignition of the guns the assembly of a perforating gun 18 with an upper connector 24 and a lower connector 26 can be carried out in a controlled environment in a building away from the drill rig if desired more than one gun 18 can be connected into a gun assembly with one upper connector 24 and one lower connector 26 in some embodiments a conventional tandem gun connector may be used for mechanically and explosively coupling successive guns in any case the completed assembly is completely sealed that is all explosive components are encased in metal housings the upper and lower ends are sealed by the walls 56 and 96 in upper and lower connectors 24 and 26 this greatly reduces the chance of accidental ignition as a result of accidental mechanical contact flame or electrical spark the completed assembly can be pressure tested at the factory to check for fluid leaks there is no need to open the completed gun assembly after testing this helps a void damage by leakage of drilling fluids when the gun 18 is positioned in a borehole the completed gun assembly with upper and lower connectors 24 26 can be transported to the drill site like other tubular goods it can be handled with the.