Circular shaped charge

This invention relates to circular shaped charges and more particularly to a system and method for making, shipping and assembling a circular shaped charge which facilitates the safe shipping of explosive components. A circular shaped charge and methods of manufacture, shipping and assembly. An circular shaped charge is manufactured as two separate charge halves, upper and lower, and a separate continuous liner or pair of continuous half liners. Preferably, each charge half is formed of a number of segments, each comprising a reduced weight of explosive which can be shipped under preferred regulations. The explosive contains sufficient binder to prevent damage to the charge segments during shipping and assembly at a job site. The separately shipped components are assembled at the job site to form a complete circular shaped charge useful, for example, in a tubing cutter.