-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000009389-04-000396.txt : 20041105
<SEC-HEADER>0000009389-04-000396.hdr.sgml : 20041105
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20041105112252
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000009389-04-000396
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20041104
FILED AS OF DATE:		20041105
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20041105

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			STIRITZ WILLIAM P
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001052058

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-07349
		FILM NUMBER:		041121544

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		10401 CLAYTON RD
		STREET 2:		STE 101
		CITY:			ST LOUIS
		STATE:			MO
		ZIP:			63131

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		10401 CLAYTON RD
		STREET 2:		STE 101
		CITY:			ST LOUIS
		STATE:			MO
		ZIP:			63131

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BALL CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000009389
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	METAL CANS [3411]
		IRS NUMBER:				350160610
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			IN
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		10 LONGS PEAK DRIVE
		CITY:			BROOMFIELD
		STATE:			CO
		ZIP:			80021-2510
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3034695511

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		PO BOX 5000
		CITY:			BROOMFIELD
		STATE:			CO
		ZIP:			80038-5000

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	BALL BROTHERS CO
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19731115
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgardoc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-11-04</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001052058</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>STIRITZ WILLIAM P</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>BALL CORPORATION</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>10 LONGS PEAK DR.</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BROOMFIELD</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CO</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>80021-2510</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Variable Forward Contract</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-11-04</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>800000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2012-06-04</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>800000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>800000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>by trust</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The William P. Stiritz Revocable Trust (the &quot;Trust&quot;), a trust of which Mr. Stiritz is trustee, entered into a variable forward contract (&quot;VFC&quot;)  with Credit Suisse First Boston Capital LLC (&quot;CSFBC LLC&quot;) and Credit Suisse First Boston LLC. Under the VFC, CSFBC LLC sold 800,000 shares of common stock of Ball Corp. (&quot;Common Shares&quot;) into the public market in accordance with paragraphs (f) and (g) of Rule 144 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. The VFC provides that, on June 4, 2012, the Trust will deliver a number of Common Shares to CSFBC LLC (or, at the election of the Trust, the cash equivalent of such shares) as follows: (a) if the settlement price is less than the downside floor, a delivery of 800,000 Common Shares; and (b) if the settlement price is equal to or greater than the downside floor, a delivery of between 533,334 and 800,000 Common Shares, dependent upon the settlement price.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The reporting person expressly disclaims beneficial ownership of these securities; 800,000 of these shares are committed for use in a variable forward contract dated 11-4-04.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: Charles E. Baker, GenCounsel&amp;AsstCorpSec  For: William P. Stiritz</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-11-05</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
