Considering how long it takes to reload a musket, why didn’t soldiers from the 18th century simply carry 2-3 preloaded muskets instead to save time?

Question

Considering how long it takes to reload a musket, why didn’t soldiers from the 18th century simply carry 2-3 preloaded muskets instead to save time?

In: Engineering

Answer 1

Muskets are too heavy and cumbersome to do that, plus you need to fire more than 2-3 shots in a battle, so you are back at the original problem.

But pistols? That was more common, expecially in skirmish combat, like boarding a ship. Think about classical depiction of pirates, with multiple flintlock pistols holstered in various places.