What is your loadout? If you are using swords and want a piercing shield go with the Bristling Buckler line (Barbarous Thorn Shield) so you get the sword damage buff.

If you want an ideal shield for Howlitzers you need Shadow, so get a Skelly Shield line (Dread Skelly Shield) or grind FSC until you can get a Blackened Crest (Crest of Almire). I don't think the Qwlite is going to hold any better vs a Howlitzer then the Dragon Scale Shield, neither has Shadow. Well, are you talking T2 or T3? because T2 I'm not sure if the Howlitzer is pure Shadow or split Shadow/Normal. If it is split then the Owlite would be better because it at least has normal. In T3 I believe the Howlitzer is pure Shadow so both shields would be equally bad in this case.

Don't get me wrong Grey Owlite is a great shield, its just not the best choice for Pierce or Shadow. I switch between my Dark Thorn Shield, Sinister Skelly Shield, and Wise Owlite Shield based on the stratum I am about to dive.