An apparatus for perforating a subterranean formation, comprising: a tubular carrier; a charge tube disposed within the tubular carrier; at least one shaped charge (100, 304) mounted in the charge tube, the shaped charge (100, 304) comprising a casing (105, 410) having a first interior volume adapted to receive a first quantity of explosive material for forming the jet, and a second interior volume adapted to receive a second quantity of material for initiating a detonation of the shaped charge (100, 304); an explosive material (110, 430) within the casing (105, 410); and a liner (120, 420) enclosing the explosive material (110, 430) within the casing (105, 410), the liner (120, 420) including an apex portion (150, 422) having a cross-sectional thickness greater than a cross-sectional thickness of any other portion of the liner (120, 420), the liner (120, 420) being formed of a powdered material, wherein the material density of the apex portion (150, 422) is greater than the material density of an adjacent portion of the liner (120, 420), and wherein a material porosity of the apex portion (150,422) is less than the material porosity of the adjacent portion of the liner (120, 420), wherein the second quantity of explosive material includes a charge material positioned in a gap between the liner (120,420) and the casing (105, 410) and an initiation charge material being positioned in a channel in the casing (105,410), the second quantity of material including the initiation charge material and the charge material, and the ratio and positioning of the first quantity and second quantity of explosive material being controlled to cause material at the apex of the shaped charge (100, 304) to have a lower velocity than the material at other portions during formation of the jet. a tubular carrier; a charge tube disposed within the tubular carrier; at least one shaped charge (100, 304) mounted in the charge tube, the shaped charge (100, 304) comprising a casing (105, 410) having a first interior volume adapted to receive a first quantity of explosive material for forming the jet, and a second interior volume adapted to receive a second quantity of material for initiating a detonation of the shaped charge (100, 304); an explosive material (110, 430) within the casing (105, 410); and a liner (120, 420) enclosing the explosive material (110, 430) within the casing (105, 410), the liner (120, 420) including an apex portion (150, 422) having a cross-sectional thickness greater than a cross-sectional thickness of any other portion of the liner (120, 420), the liner (120, 420) being formed of a powdered material, wherein the material density of the apex portion (150, 422) is greater than the material density of an adjacent portion of the liner (120, 420), and wherein a material porosity of the apex portion (150,422) is less than the material porosity of the adjacent portion of the liner (120, 420), wherein the second quantity of explosive material includes a charge material positioned in a gap between the liner (120,420) and the casing (105, 410) and an initiation charge material being positioned in a channel in the casing (105,410), the second quantity of material including the initiation charge material and the charge material, and the ratio and positioning of the first quantity and second quantity of explosive material being controlled to cause material at the apex of the shaped charge (100, 304) to have a lower velocity than the material at other portions during formation of the jet.