Recoil inserts are rolled from high quality stainless steel wire with a diamond shaped cross section, wound to the shape of a spring thread. Once the wire is wound into a helical coil and helicoil a tapped hole, it provides a permanent and wear resistant thread in the parent material that is generally stronger than the original thread insert. The inserts are designed to be greater in diameter than the tapped hole and compress as they are installed. This allows maximum surface contact area with the tapped thread, safely and permanently anchoring the inserts into place.

The insert's cmpensatory action shares the load over the entire bolt and hole, increasing holding or pull out strength. With a Recoil insert in place, load and stress are more evenly distributed.