An apparatus for loading cartridges into a magazine, comprising: a body having a top end and a bottom end, the body comprising a plurality of wall portions defining a body cavity with a lower opening proximate the bottom end, the body cavity configured to receive an upper portion of the magazine, the body cavity extending along a magazine insertion axis, the magazine insertion axis extending in upward and downward directions, the plurality of body wall portions comprising a starboard body wall portion and an opposing port body wall portion, the body further including a starboard ramp supported by the starboard wall portion and a port ramp supported by the port wall portion; a cap comprising a plurality of cap wall portions defining an interior volume, the plurality of cap wall portions comprising a starboard cap wall portion and an opposing port cap wall portion; an upper portion of the body being slidingly received in the interior volume defined by the cap wall portions (222, 322) so that the body and the cap slide relative to one another along a sliding axis, the sliding axis extending in the upward and downward directions, the cap translating between an upper position and a lower position along the sliding axis; the starboard cap wall defining a first starboard slot and a second starboard slot, each starboard slot (238, 240) extending in the upward and downward directions, the starboard cap wall including a starboard leaf spring portion disposed between the first starboard slot and the second starboard slot, the starboard leaf spring portion having a fixed end and a free end, the starboard leaf spring portion comprising a starboard ramp engaging portion proximate the free end thereof, the starboard ramp engaging portion contacting the starboard ramp; the port cap wall defining a first port slot and a second port slot, each port slot (338, 340) extending in the upward and downward directions, the port cap wall including a port leaf spring portion disposed between the first port slot and the second port slot, the port leaf spring portion having a fixed end and a free end, the port leaf spring portion comprising a port ramp engaging portion proximate the free end thereof, the port ramp engaging portion contacting the port ramp; wherein, when the cap is urged to translate downward along the sliding axis each ramp (428, 528) applies a reaction force to each ramp engaging portion (244, 344), the orientation of each ramp (428, 528) relative to the sliding axis being such that each reaction force has an outwardly directed component that acts to deflect each leaf spring portion (242, 342) in a cantilevered fashion and an upwardly directed component, the upwardly directed components urging the cap to translate in the upward direction along the sliding axis toward the upper position. a body having a top end and a bottom end, the body comprising a plurality of wall portions defining a body cavity with a lower opening proximate the bottom end, the body cavity configured to receive an upper portion of the magazine, the body cavity extending along a magazine insertion axis, the magazine insertion axis extending in upward and downward directions, the plurality of body wall portions comprising a starboard body wall portion and an opposing port body wall portion, the body further including a starboard ramp supported by the starboard wall portion and a port ramp supported by the port wall portion; a cap comprising a plurality of cap wall portions defining an interior volume, the plurality of cap wall portions comprising a starboard cap wall portion and an opposing port cap wall portion; an upper portion of the body being slidingly received in the interior volume defined by the cap wall portions (222, 322) so that the body and the cap slide relative to one another along a sliding axis, the sliding axis extending in the upward and downward directions, the cap translating between an upper position and a lower position along the sliding axis; the starboard cap wall defining a first starboard slot and a second starboard slot, each starboard slot (238, 240) extending in the upward and downward directions, the starboard cap wall including a starboard leaf spring portion disposed between the first starboard slot and the second starboard slot, the starboard leaf spring portion having a fixed end and a free end, the starboard leaf spring portion comprising a starboard ramp engaging portion proximate the free end thereof, the starboard ramp engaging portion contacting the starboard ramp; the port cap wall defining a first port slot and a second port slot, each port slot (338, 340) extending in the upward and downward directions, the port cap wall including a port leaf spring portion disposed between the first port slot and the second port slot, the port leaf spring portion having a fixed end and a free end, the port leaf spring portion comprising a port ramp engaging portion proximate the free end thereof, the port ramp engaging portion contacting the port ramp; wherein, when the cap is urged to translate downward along the sliding axis each ramp (428, 528) applies a reaction force to each ramp engaging portion (244, 344), the orientation of each ramp (428, 528) relative to the sliding axis being such that each reaction force has an outwardly directed component that acts to deflect each leaf spring portion (242, 342) in a cantilevered fashion and an upwardly directed component, the upwardly directed components urging the cap to translate in the upward direction along the sliding axis toward the upper position.