MN Muzzle, I had the same issue. Did you get it sorted out? Rather than retype here I'm cut-n-pasting a letter I wrote to CVA on the issue. Let me know what you think.
I recently purchased a CVA muzzle loader, model PR2024S Optima V2 Northwest legal version (October 25, 2017) from Muzzle_loader.com. There were two problems with the gun I received. First, it arrived new in the box without a front sight. Second, after receiving the correct front sight (DS001) from Muzzle_loader.com it shot a 3-shot ragged one-hole group at 25 yards but would not hit a vital area size target at 50 yards and beyond making it useless as a big game hunting weapon. (I’ll mention here that I handload ammunition for my guns, know how to work up a proper accurate load, and most all my guns I’ve developed a sub 1” group loading. I’ve been shooting for over 40 years so am not a novice.) I am surprised to purchase a gun from a reputable company that would not shoot “out of the box”.
I’ll focus this letter on the second most important issue. The factory sights when used with Northwest regulation big game loads produced points of impact 8 inches low at 50 yards and 14 inches low at 100 yards when set at their highest setting. The gun shot good 3-shot groups with the open sights but could not be brought up in elevation to get on the target. I purchased a Williams peep sight #70154 specified by Williams as the CVA muzzle loader sight. When installed on my gun it shot the same points of impact as factory sights. I contacted Muzzle_loader.com by phone and received no assistance with the sight problem. I contacted CVA.com via email and they sent replacement factory sights with a comment that was the only sights they have, period. Again, no help. I scoured the internet and found many blog comments about the improper factory sight, failure of the Williams peep #70154, use of shimming, and use of a lower front sight. Some dating back to 2009 and as recent as 2016.
It is apparent to me that no one at BPI Outdoors, Inc, CVA, Muzzle_loader.com, nor Williams sight companies have ever shot the CVA Optima V2 Northwest version with a proper northwest big game load. I suggest you do so at 100 yards with an elk load of Hornady 50 caliber 385 grain conical over 100 grains Pyrodex loose powder and RWS musket cap, or similar Northwest legal loading sufficient for elk. (you’ll need a large piece of cardboard to register the impact point.)
After trial and error of adding shims to raise the rear sight to the proper height and trial and error of using a lower front sight I have shot two containers of bullets (40 bullets) and over ½ pound of Pyrodex RS and taken 5 days of shooting on my own range to figure out the solution to the improper sight problem. I discovered that the proper sight combination is the DS001 Firesight (0.485 “) and increased shimmed height of 0.174 inches is required for either the factory rear sight or the Williams peep sight. I achieved this proper rear sight height with a section of 1 inch diameter Schedule 40 PVC grey conduit (0.147” thick) and a section of credit card (0.027” thick).
I recommend that you all increase the height of rear sights for the CVA muzzle loaders Northwest version by 0.174 inches. This should become the normal parts of the conversion to NW version weapon. This would save your customers a lot of time and frustration not to mention increase the positive comments about your products. I would like to receive a response from each of your companies as I’ve invested significant time and effort to resolve this issue.
So, all in all, CVA sent me a replacement sight set, the same exact sights I already told them wouldn't work, and said that was all they had. Muzzleloader.com sent me a package of Powerbelt 295 lead bullets to try.
This would be end of story, however now I'm trying to get a scope to work on the gun and having similar issues.