<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-06-16</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000009389</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>BALL CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>BLL</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001205946</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SEABROOK RAYMOND J</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>SR. V.P., &amp; CFO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeSecurity>
        <securityTitle>
            <value>Common Stock</value>
        </securityTitle>
        <transactionDate>
            <value>2003-06-16</value>
        </transactionDate>
        <transactionCoding>
            <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
            <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
            <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            <footnoteId id="F1"/>
        </transactionCoding>
        <transactionAmounts>
            <transactionShares>
                <value>38</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </transactionShares>
            <transactionValue>
                <value>49.23</value>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </transactionValue>
            <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                <value>A</value>
            </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        </transactionAmounts>
        <postTransactionAmounts>
            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>118004</value>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>
            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>D</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
    </nonDerivativeSecurity>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Dividend reinvestment in Ball Corporation Deferred Compensation Company Stock Plan.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Indirect Holdings:  by Son 800 shares; by Daughter 800 shares; 401(k) 4,855 shares.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Total number of Common Shares directly owned includes shares acquired through participation in the Ball Corporation Employee Stock Purchase Plan.  Total number of 401(k) Plan shares includes shares acquired through periodic dividend reinvestment and employer matching contributions.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: Mary L. Rose, Dir., Exec. Comp. Prog.  For: Raymond J. Seabrook</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-06-16</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

