<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>
    <periodOfReport>2003-06-01</periodOfReport>
    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000009892</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>BARD C R INC /NJ/</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>BCR</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001235355</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>PAUL AMY S</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>Group Vice President</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>
   <nonDerivativeSecurity>
      <securityTitle>
          <value>Common Stock</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <transactionAmounts>
          <transactionShares>
              <value>10731.93</value>
              <footnoteId id="F1" />
          </transactionShares>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
          <directOrIndirectOwnership>
              <value>D</value>
          </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </nonDerivativeSecurity>
   <nonDerivativeSecurity>
      <securityTitle>
          <value>Common Stock</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <transactionAmounts>
          <transactionShares>
              <value>4091.00</value>
          </transactionShares>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
          <directOrIndirectOwnership>
              <value>I</value>
          </directOrIndirectOwnership>
          <natureOfOwnership>
              <value>401(K) Plan</value>
          </natureOfOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </nonDerivativeSecurity>
   <derivativeSecurity>
      <securityTitle>
          <value>Option (Right to Buy)</value>
              <footnoteId id="F2" />
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
          <value>29.75</value>
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <exerciseDate>
          <value>1996-07-12</value>
              <footnoteId id="F3" />
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
          <value>2005-07-12</value>
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
          <underlyingSecurityTitle>
              <value>Common Stock</value>
          </underlyingSecurityTitle>
          <underlyingSecurityShares>
              <value>5112.00</value>
          </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <ownershipNature>
          <directOrIndirectOwnership>
              <value>D</value>
          </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </derivativeSecurity>
   <derivativeSecurity>
      <securityTitle>
          <value>Option (Right to buy)</value>
              <footnoteId id="F2" />
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
          <value>32.81</value>
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <exerciseDate>
          <value>1997-07-10</value>
              <footnoteId id="F3" />
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
          <value>2006-07-10</value>
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
          <underlyingSecurityTitle>
              <value>Common Stock</value>
          </underlyingSecurityTitle>
          <underlyingSecurityShares>
              <value>4912.00</value>
          </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <ownershipNature>
          <directOrIndirectOwnership>
              <value>D</value>
          </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </derivativeSecurity>
   <derivativeSecurity>
      <securityTitle>
          <value>Option Right to Buy</value>
              <footnoteId id="F4" />
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
          <value>51.56</value>
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <exerciseDate>
          <value>2000-02-10</value>
              <footnoteId id="F5" />
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
          <value>2008-02-10</value>
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
          <underlyingSecurityTitle>
              <value>Common Stock</value>
          </underlyingSecurityTitle>
          <underlyingSecurityShares>
              <value>22500.00</value>
          </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <ownershipNature>
          <directOrIndirectOwnership>
              <value>D</value>
          </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </derivativeSecurity>
   <derivativeSecurity>
      <securityTitle>
          <value>Option (Right to Buy)</value>
              <footnoteId id="F4" />
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
          <value>43.95</value>
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <exerciseDate>
          <value>2002-04-18</value>
              <footnoteId id="F6" />
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
          <value>2011-04-18</value>
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
          <underlyingSecurityTitle>
              <value>Common Stock</value>
          </underlyingSecurityTitle>
          <underlyingSecurityShares>
              <value>22500.00</value>
          </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <ownershipNature>
          <directOrIndirectOwnership>
              <value>D</value>
          </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </derivativeSecurity>
   <derivativeSecurity>
      <securityTitle>
          <value>Option (Right to Buy)</value>
              <footnoteId id="F4" />
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
          <value>54.43</value>
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <exerciseDate>
          <value>2003-03-01</value>
              <footnoteId id="F7" />
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
          <value>2012-03-01</value>
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
          <underlyingSecurityTitle>
              <value>Common Stock</value>
          </underlyingSecurityTitle>
          <underlyingSecurityShares>
              <value>5000.00</value>
          </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <ownershipNature>
          <directOrIndirectOwnership>
              <value>D</value>
          </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </derivativeSecurity>
   <derivativeSecurity>
      <securityTitle>
          <value>Option (Right to Buy)</value>
              <footnoteId id="F4" />
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
          <value>52.02</value>
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <exerciseDate>
          <value>2003-07-10</value>
              <footnoteId id="F8" />
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
          <value>2012-07-10</value>
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
          <underlyingSecurityTitle>
              <value>Common Stock</value>
          </underlyingSecurityTitle>
          <underlyingSecurityShares>
              <value>5100.00</value>
          </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <ownershipNature>
          <directOrIndirectOwnership>
              <value>D</value>
          </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </derivativeSecurity>
<footnotes>
   <footnote id="F1">Includes 1,271.93 shares held in the Company's Dividend Reinvestment Plan as of May 9, 2003.</footnote>
   <footnote id="F2">Options granted under 1993 Long Term Incentive Plan of C. R.  Bard, Inc.</footnote>
   <footnote id="F3">Under Option Plan no exercise within 12 mos. then exercisable in installments:  25% after 12 mos., 50% after 24 mos., 75% after 3
6 mos., and 100% after 48 mos.</footnote>
   <footnote id="F4">Performance options granted under 1993 Long Term Incentive Plan of C. R. Bard, Inc.</footnote>
   <footnote id="F5">Options vest in accordance with schedule upon achievement of certain performance criteria during eight-year period following gran
t date, or fully vest in nine years.</footnote>
   <footnote id="F6">Options vest in accordance with schedule upon achievement of certain performance criteria during 3-5 year period following grant
date, or fully vest in seven years. </footnote>
   <footnote id="F7">Options vest in accordance with schedule upon achievement of certain performance criteria or fully vest in seven years.</footnote
>
   <footnote id="F8">Options vest in accordance with schedule upon achievement of certain performance criteria or fully vest in five years.</footnote>
</footnotes>
    <ownerSignature>
       <signatureName>Amy S. Paul</signatureName>
       <signatureDate>2003-06-03</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
    <ownerSignature>
       <signatureName>Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
       <signatureDate>2003-06-03</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

