A sampling die and press for compaction of a powder sample are disclosed. The die is designed to serve both as a mold for compacting a powder sample into a tablet or caplet and as a container for sampling the powder that is to be compacted. The die is made in two pieces with the top piece of the die having a passage and the bottom piece of the die sealing the bottom opening of the passage to form a mold cavity. The invention also includes a press adapted for compacting a powder sample contained within the mold cavity of a die which serves both as a sampling container for the powder and as a mold for compaction of the powder.