My Mini 30 is all standard, and out of about 2,000-2,200 total rds, it has had about ten stovebolts and maybe seven ftfs on just the first pin strike.
It seems very reliable, over all, and has only used Russian-made Wolf and Monarch ammo.
My experience with a mini-30 mirrors you own, save for the stove piping. I don't remember that happening much with the 30 but a lot with the 14. Anyway, my experience with several AKs says those stove pipes and ftf never happen, in fact they've never failed yet, so *very* reliable is a stretch.
I'll add one more thing, neither are known for accuracy; I'd put the 30 and a Arsenal SLR-107 in the same class there. But, I'd be dang if my Arsenal Saiga didn't surprise the heck out of me. Using Barnual it was able to group about an inch to inch and a half at 100 yds, that impressed the hell out of me as far as AKs are concerned. Typically 3" is the norm for the higher end Arsenal stuff, while the WASR hangs around 5".