I think this thread is a bit confused and going at cross purposes a bit.

1. A paradox or explora is a breech loading firearm which was choked and the choke or one choke at least, had a small amount of rifling at the muzzle. As such it was able to shoot reasonably accurately a ball or possibly a slug, or be used with shot, without the pattern being too spread or erratic.

2. The question was, were there muzzle loaders which were doing this, ie choked and rifled at the muzzle?

3. Smooth bore firearms, muzzle loading, capable of shot and ball? Of course, why wouldn't they be capable of shooting a ball or a charge of shot. This is the most common firearm before the invention of rifling.

The US Revolution was in part fought by US patriots fighting with their more accurate but slower reloading rifles and the Brits with smooth bore quicker reloading muskets.

The ability to not be able to use shot well happened with the rifled barrels.

4. Were some of these smooth bored muzzle loaders also choked? Again these are not paradoxes, as no rifling.