The deformation characteristics and microstructure changes in a round copper pipe under biaxial compression was studied using a horizontal compression die. The change of material properties, punch load and deformation behavior were monitored using various compressive deformation rates in the range of 0.5mm/min.~450mm/min. The strains, either tensile or compressive, were estimated from Vickers microhardness test results. The punch load and deformation characteristics of the round copper pipes were found to change greatly at a deformation rate of about 200mm/min. The punch load decreased with increasing compressive deformation rate. The results of numerical simulations agreed well with what was expected from the final microstructure and the hardness profile estimated from the final deformation strains.