Muskets are long firearms that were widely used from the 16th to the 19th centuries. They typically featured a smoothbore barrel, which means the inside of the barrel was not rifled, making them less accurate than later firearms. Muskets were often loaded with a lead ball and gunpowder, and they required a slow reloading process, which made them less effective in rapid-fire situations. The Brown Bess musket is one of the most famous examples, used by the British Army during the 18th century. Muskets played a significant role in various historical conflicts, including the American Revolutionary War and the Napoleonic Wars, shaping military tactics and strategies of the time.