A perforating gun loading bay includes a loading area and a separate gun component storage area. The perforating gun loading area also includes racks and a table that permit an in-line loading operation such that the gun housing and loaded gun need not be moved out of a linear path from introduction to the bay to unloading from the bay. The racks and the table may be position in axial alignment and may include low friction members to permit axial sliding motion along the racks and the table. A method for using the loading bay permits in-line handling. A perforating gun loading table includes low friction members permitting axial movement of perforating gun components therealong and low friction members permitting rotational movement of perforating gun components along their long axis. The perforating gun loading table includes a control system for selecting the low friction member that is positioned to engage the perforating gun component on the table.