Some of them. In the day, muskets were smooth bore military long arms. Some of the Colonists used them in the Rev War, most used long barreled smooth bore fouling pieces which could be loaded with either shot or round balls. A number of Colonists, mainly from the backwoods, used longrifles, with rifled barrels. Most replicas made today are copies of Pennsylvania or Kentucky type longrifles. Very few real muskets out there now.
“...muskets were smooth bore... Some of the Colonists used them in the Rev War, most used long barreled smooth bore fouling pieces which could be loaded with either shot or round balls. A number of Colonists, mainly from the backwoods, used longrifles, with rifled barrels. Most replicas made today are copies of Pennsylvania or Kentucky type longrifles. Very few real muskets out there now.” [Inyo-Mono, post 55]
Almost all troops in the American War of Independence were equipped with smoothbore muskets, of patterns as standardized as the leadership could obtain.
AWI is noted as the first conflict in which organized forces used rifles, but they were not decisive. They could not mount a bayonet, they cost too much (and took too long to make), and could not be made in standardized calibers.
American forces used smoothbores in patterns begged, borrowed, stolen, or bought: as uniform and as military as they could find. Military arms were stronger, heavier, and could mount a bayonet. Some irregular forces and local militia units did arm with fowling pieces when nothing else could be had, but were always re-equipped with standard-pattern muskets when supplies and opportunities presented: first of British pattern (pinned barrel, 72 to 80 caliber) and later of French pattern (barrel bands, 69 caliber).
General Washington was of the opinion that the Americans would never beat the British unless they could field “an army that would look the enemy in the face” - in other words, that would stand its ground, returning shot for shot and thrust for thrust.
During the winter of 1778, he got what he wanted.
Friedrich Wilhelm Ludolf Gerhard Augustin von Steuben, a staff officer in the Prussian Army who had to leave it suddenly, under cloudy circumstances, came to America and declared he could train the Continental Army and standardize its tactics. He refused to accept any pay until he’d proven himself; he succeeded. The Continental Army met the British at Monmouth in New Jersey the subsequent June; the British were quite shocked.
American forces did fire multi-ball ammunition: the “buck and ball” load, which added three smaller-caliber balls (buckshot) to the standard single-ball load. Initially issued for guard duty, it was found to be so effective General Washington ordered it issued to all troops.
The United States did become the first nation in the world to adopt a standard rifle, in 1803. After tangling with the Americans almost thirty years previously, the British proved the lesson was not lost on them when they adopted the Baker rifle in 1805.
There are plenty of muskets in circulation now, of original pattern but modern make. One cannot join an AWI living history outfit without one.