It would be pretty hard to open up crimped shells and then re-crimp them to hold shot and ashes. What you can do is buy a Lee Loader, it is relatively cheap, Get a reloading manual and select a hunting load, then buy your components, Hulls, wads, primers, shot (#5 shot) and Powder. If you select a 1 1/8 Oz hunting load you could put a 1 oz shot bushing in and fill the rest with your buddies ashes. you might experience a little more trouble taking game. If you wanted to try opening up shells first, the Lee Loader would be able to recrimp them. How good the crimp would be don't know. If that didn't work you could take the information above and get it done. Also no one is going to tell you this is safe, I am sure no shotshell Mfg. would recommend it. I can't tell you if it is safe so to do anything like this would be at your own risk.